[Elementality]

I just finished lowering my roof rack on my Element. Here are the pictures if you have any questions please feel free to ask me! It took me a little over 2 hours to complete by myself. It was quite difficult to drill through the metal of the rack. The rubber pieces are pipe couplings that i used to prevent the rack from slipping. I am debating whether i want to cut the U-Bracket although it may be more work than it was worth.

 

[Spam16v]

good idea. chop them off.... you'll thank yourself later when you don't tear something open like your hand or arm.

 

[NV_05_AWD]

Cut em off or get some bolt covers. Also, you can get those "U" bolts in anodized black. Try Grainger I think.

 

[Elementality]

Alright so here's an update for everyone. I switched the rack back to its lifted mounting points due to the pretty sizable increase in wind noise while on the road/highway. I just couldn't handle it. So for anyone interested in doing this I would steer clear unless you don't mind a little extra noise.

 

[siclmn]

I am just wondering what you carry on it, and how often do you use such a rack? I would think it makes a wind noise all the time. And how do you wash under it?

 

[Jojo]

Alright so here's an update for everyone. I switched the rack back to its lifted mounting points due to the pretty sizable increase in wind noise while on the road/highway. I just couldn't handle it. So for anyone interested in doing this I would steer clear unless you don't mind a little extra noise.

That's too bad, I really like that look. I use mine occasionally and never hear any wind noise, I was looking forward to a lower rack that I could keep up all the time.

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[Elementality]

I am just wondering what you carry on it, and how often do you use such a rack? I would think it makes a wind noise all the time. And how do you wash under it?

I have a 170lb Great Dane so when I travel she takes up pretty much the entire back area. So I just toss all my luggage up on top and I am ready to go. Surprisingly from what I can tell it doesn't make any wind noise. After I lowered it, it got really loud. I ended up lifting the rack back up because it was very distracting. I'm not huge on washing the car either I just run it through the auto bell near my house or a gas station car wash and that's enough for me. The main thing I like to be clean is the inside.

 

[Elementality]

That's too bad, I really like that look. I use mine occasionally and never hear any wind noise, I was looking forward to a lower rack that I could keep up all the time.

I think it may have been my positioning on the roof. Others have done this a little differently with out using the wind fairing the rack came with and putting one a little farther forward on the roof and apparently they didn't have any issues. In the end though I didn't wanna go through all that trouble and just re-lifted it. Good thing I kept the old mounts.