Pmulls870

His All,

I had no idea where to post this so I thought I would try here, if an admin feels it would fit better somewhere else please move it.

I have a A4 B5 Sedan and would like to add a Thule rack. Right now I have a set of square bars with the door frame attachments and I hate the noise. I want to add a Thule TP 42 slot system to the roof.

Does anyone have experience adding these and is there any other tricks to it?

Does anyone have experience with the Aero bars? I'm not opposed to changing but I would have to get all new accessories, I don't want to do that if it isn't worth the change.

Finally: does anyone have the TP slots that could take some close ups of the mounting between the slot and the podium?

Thanks in advance!

Kris Hansen

I'd think you'll be better off with the aero bars.. I've used them on a variety of cars, and they are very quiet.. Anything that requires drilling holes in the roof is a no-go in my mind.

Pmulls870

Is there a trick to installing over the door bars so sound doesn't come through around the compressed weatherstripping? My B5 is kind of the adventure car, 250,000 miles on the second engine. I think the car has over 400,000 total miles. I don't really mind drilling but if I can avoid it I will.

Kris Hansen

Hmm.. is your weatherstripping hard and non-compliant? I've used hook on racks and never really had wind noise come in from that area, usually just the roar from above..

Pmulls870

I stripped down my podiums to just the piece that hooks through the door to eliminate the possibility of overhead noise coming through. Noise is still present. I took my calipers to the door frame and I think the rack is bending out the top of the door frame ever so slightly, just enough to let a little wind noise through. I ordered a set of TP 42 rails, podiums, Aerobars, and all of the fun toys associated. Now for installation... ever pulled the headliner out of a B5? I'm thinking I'll pull out the headliner and use bolts and big washers to install then sound deaden the entire roof.