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Reverse rake and factory roof bars... part deux : Bars are now level!
Hi,
In my original post I complained about the factory roof bars not being level. My plan was to raise the back bar about 2".
The Parts
I purchased a 2" x 2.5" x 13.5" scrap of black Delrin from ebay from "surplusdealdude" - package arrived really fast. It was all shiny like this (this is my remainder piece).
Scrap bit of black Delrin.
I purchased four M6-1.0 x 65mm Stainless Steel Socket Cap Screw bolts (like this).
New and original bolts.
Hex head.
Fabrication
I used a Dremel tool (sanding drum worked like a charm) to remove material on the mating surface with the bottom of the bar. The center bit was lowered by 3mm.
This surface mates with the bottom of the bar.
Here is my test fit... where I realized that I had to cut another channel on the so that the shroud on the clamp would fit... this is the surface that mates with the end clamp.
Test fit.
The plastic shroud that goes over the clamp relies on a bit of space between the bar and mating surface. I was going to trim the shroud at first but decided things were sturdy enough that I just returned outdoors to my Dremel to grind down the surface a bit.
Mating surface for the clamp.
Nice Delrin shavings from drilling :-).
The Results
I did not tighten the hex head bolts until fully securing the bars to the Q5 and doing then doing some fine tuning on the position of the blocks and the clamps... there is lots of play the way it is designed.
The bars are level now.
I decided to sand the surface so the Delrin was not shiny.
View from the back.
Three-quarter view.
Box resting place.
Summary
For under a $100 and a couple of hours labour I like the results.
The hatch does not interfere with the roofbox at full open !
The only downside is that the Q5 cannot be driven into our garage as the new combined height exceeds 7 feet now . We just squeaked in before. Coilovers could solve that. I will report on road noise after my next trip.
I am interested to see what the road noise is like now. It does (and the wife agrees) look alot better. It gives me some ideas.
I had really had no complaint to begin with so we'll see... Look for a report next weekend. I do not have the panorama roof, I think it could be a big factor.
04-29-2017, 04:52 PM
Reverse rake and factory roof bars... part deux : Bars are now level!
!
. We just squeaked in before. Coilovers could solve that. I will report on road noise after my next trip.
