Rubber coated roof rails?

Post by **Eddystone** » 21 Aug 2019, 08:57

Anyone come up with a fix for the deteriorating rubber on the roof rails above the doors?

I have seen cars where the rubber appears to have been removed and the aluminum polished. This doesn't seem to be the optimum thing to do since the rubber has a specific shape that would be lost.

I have a nice set of long V70 rails I got at a picknpull that I got for future use on my V70. Unfortunately, it the S70 that needs rails. I'm sure I can shorten the V70 rails to work on the S70, but I hate to do it. I have lots of the clips.

P80 cars seem to be scarce now in the local u-pull-its in my area.

Just casting about in case someone came up with a clever solution to this problem other than simply locating replacements.

Anyone?

Post by **BlackBart** » 21 Aug 2019, 13:56

Are you talking about the trim band that covers the roof seam from the windshield post to the liftgate? On my 850, those are a brushed alum or stainless that had a black vinyl covering to match all the other black trim on the car. It has a rubber gasket seal on either side of the metal.

My vinyl cover failed and came off years ago. I trimmed it so I didn't have ragged chunks, and just lived with the silver. I was thinking I'd mask off the entire metal strip, rough it up some with a scotchbrite, and spray black with SEM trim paint.

Post by **Chuck W** » 21 Aug 2019, 18:55

I found a set in the JY for my '97 854 in good shape.

The ones on the wife's '97 855 have had the covering removed and looks like an attempt to paint them happened at one time. We're just going to shoot them with some PlastiDip, instead of paint.

Post by **ZionXIX** » 21 Aug 2019, 19:25

I wonder if they could be powder coated? Overkill I know, but it would like cool.

Post by **erikv11** » 21 Aug 2019, 21:48

Time to hit the search button, you will find many posts where people have dealt with the roof trim using plastidip or similar products.

"Roof rails" usually refers to the long rails that go from the top of the windshield to the back of the wagon. The ones you mount cross bars to in order to carry things on the roof.

Post by **scot850** » 22 Aug 2019, 07:46

I had thought about plasticote spray, but others have just cleaned the old coating off and painted.

Neil.

markone · Post by **markone** » 22 Aug 2019, 10:01

I spoke to a guy who wraps cars. He suggested applying a matte finish vinyl wrap material. I thought that was a good idea.

Post by **June** » 22 Aug 2019, 10:35

markone wrote: ↑22 Aug 2019, 10:01 I spoke to a guy who wraps cars. He suggested applying a matte finish vinyl wrap material. I thought that was a good idea.

This is exactly what I want to do with my S80's rails. Mine started peeling several years ago and replacements are not available. I used acetone and paper towels to clean the peeling clear off. If you wrap yours please post pics and let us know how they look. June

Post by **Eddystone** » 22 Aug 2019, 10:57

Chuck W wrote: ↑21 Aug 2019, 18:55 I found a set in the JY for my '97 854 in good shape.

The ones on the wife's '97 855 have had the covering removed and looks like an attempt to paint them happened at one time. We're just going to shoot them with some PlastiDip, instead of paint.

I had similar thoughts about recoating them.

Other than potential wind noise, do the gasket components actually seal anything? I can see those gaps at least holding dirt that might not dry out quickly.