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Old 06-30-2014, 05:45 PM   #1
Advan-Emotion
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Member#: 328079
Join Date: Aug 2012
Vehicle:
10 Xterra
15 WRX /15 STI

Default 15 WRX factory roof rack mount installed, yea I drilled it !

Hated gutter clamps so I drilled the roof and installed factory style mount came with most other Subarus. Bought the following parts end up costing less than a hundred bucks, NOTE: This is my install, my write up. It is not meant to be use as any type of instructions. I can not be held responsible for any damages, problem that you may run into. Your air bag could deploy, the roof may leak, your gf may leave you because of your leaky roof, then your 4000 dollars MTB may came loose half way through a turn...etc.

I will be using Rhino Racks for the my install. Detail part number will be posted once I got everything togther.
Update: I am using Rhino Rack part# JA2057. It is a bolt on kit made to fit multiple 08-11 impreza / WRX / outbacks. PM me if you are interested in any Rhino Rack products.


Stainless steel roof mount from Krazy - http://hectordtruong.blogspot.com/20...-brackets.html
A small amount of Anti Rust paint
Silicon / sealant of your choice
Painters tape
A good sharp 1/4 drill bit, and a small pilot bit, if you prefer.

1) Removing the gutter covers. Using plastic panel tools, pry open the FRONT of the cover. Once the front clip came off, work your way toward the rear until the whole cover came off.





These are the clips holding down the cover. The circular one do NOT came off except the black clips they should be removed to prevent damages. If the clips are stuck on the roof, slide them off. If they are stuck to the cover, press down on the two side to release it. These clips need to be pre-installed on the roof before the cover goes back on.









After the covers came off, tape up both side of the rain channel. I marked a center line between the two doors. made another mark 11 inches Forward from the center line. And another mark 16 inches Backward from the center line. This gives me a crossbar spread of 27 inches.



Move on to the interior, the roof liner has to come off so bolts can be tightened.
Pull out your moon roof seal from the inside if you have one.

Using a small screw driver, remove the lens on both front and rear dome light, Then remove the two philips inside the housing, undo all the connectors then pull it out. After the front light came off, jam your hand inside the plastic cage, pull it down a little to unlock the clip inside. This clips is located at the very center of the opening toward the front, without unlocking this clip your roofliner will not come off.







Dc @ Advan-Emotion
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Last edited by Advan-Emotion; 07-01-2014 at 12:37 PM.
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Old 06-30-2014, 05:46 PM   #2
Advan-Emotion
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Member#: 328079
Join Date: Aug 2012
Vehicle:
10 Xterra
15 WRX /15 STI

Default

Visors are hold on by two philips, remove the plastic cover with a small screwdriver, un-do the bolts then unplug it







The visor holders are not hold on by any bolts, stick a screw driver into the side opening, give it a good push, then repeat on the opposite side and it will came right off.





Oh shxt bars are also hold on by clips only without any bolts. Same approach with the visor holders, using a small screw driver, unlock the two plastic cap, pull them both back. then give it a good pull on the actual grab handle and the whole thing will came off as one piece.







Move on to the pillars, I loosened the A pillar cover, and remove the C pillar covers and was able to slide with liner down without touch the b-pillar.

Pull back the door seals, jam your hand into the A pillar cover and pull it back, it will stay hanging by the bright yellow clips inside.



Dc @ Advan-Emotion
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Old 06-30-2014, 05:46 PM   #3
Advan-Emotion
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10 Xterra
15 WRX /15 STI

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Unlatch the skinny part of the C-pillar cover directly under the seatbelt, then pull the entire cover out, they are hold on by three clips.






Remove the three push tab toward the rear of your roof liner:



Now that everything is out, slide the roof liner down.

Remove the front grab handle brackets and the center bracket supporting the side air bag.



Remove the rear grab handle brackets



Found dead leafs on my moonroof channel, cleaned it out while I am at it



I then lined the brackets to the center line, marked the holes and drilled it. To keep metal shaving from falling inside I taped off the area under the holes using masking tape. It will catch most of the shavings and ease clean up.





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Old 06-30-2014, 05:48 PM   #4
Advan-Emotion
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10 Xterra
15 WRX /15 STI

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Using my trusty bosch hammer drill (no the hammer wasnt on lol) I then spent the next two hour drilling with a Dewell and a Milwaukee bit and it never penetrate through the last layer. Got frustrated, went to home depot and picked up a 2 dollar RIDGID bit, and guess what, I finished all 8 holes in 10 minutes, it went through the metal layer as if they are wood







I then coated the hole with anti rust paint, applied silicon the both the roof and the bottom of the bracket then tighten them up.





Look oh so pretty eh ? Then right before I close it up my OCD hit me and the inner me made me put a sxit ton of silicon all over the gaps and holes, just so I know it is not going to leak.



I will be installing the actual crossbars in a few days and will post up more pictures.

Dc @ Advan-Emotion
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Old 07-01-2014, 01:08 AM   #5
Advan-Emotion
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Old 07-01-2014, 01:51 AM   #6
bunz559
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U brave brave SOB! I love it! Test 2 MTB with yakima front loaders please! I'd like to know how it turns out...

Inspiring me to do this, of course not by myself though.
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Old 07-01-2014, 02:08 AM   #7
jonfaiella
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Very nice job. I fully approve!
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Old 07-01-2014, 02:16 AM   #8
Subie_Noob_Brian
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Wow, very nice right up. VERY through and detailed. Something all us 2015 owners were curious about too!
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Old 07-01-2014, 09:40 AM   #9
TwobirdsRR
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Wow that's freakin awesome man! Great write up !
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Old 07-01-2014, 10:34 AM   #10
gsrcrxsi
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So you didnt put the rain gutter trim back in? plans to modify it to fit back in?
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Old 07-01-2014, 12:28 PM   #11
Advan-Emotion
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15 WRX /15 STI

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Quote:
Originally Posted by gsrcrxsi View Post
So you didnt put the rain gutter trim back in? plans to modify it to fit back in?
I actually did but didnt take any picture of the process. I put tape next to the mounting hole on the bracket, mark the center line of the hole, then put the cover back on, marked it then take it out again. Starting drilling with a small drill bit, then move on to a bigger one. To keep it from warping I first drill the front side a little, then flip it around and drilled the back a little, repeat until it finally went through. I let the drill does its work without pressing it against the part, again to minimize warping. Then finally enlarge it to a somewhat oval shape with a Dremel.






I am thinking if I ever need to take it out I will be covering the hole with some type of bumper tab ?


Bike rack going in this afternoon, just had to drove it around last night make sure it doesnt just fly off

Dc @ Advan-Emotion
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Old 07-01-2014, 12:32 PM   #12
Advan-Emotion
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bunz559 View Post
U brave brave SOB! I love it! Test 2 MTB with yakima front loaders please! I'd like to know how it turns out...

Inspiring me to do this, of course not by myself though.

I wish I have Yakima front loaders lol, I will be using Rhino Rack RBC035. pretty much a regular fork mount. I will be using a 20mm thru axle adapter I cant wait to hear loud it will be on the freeway

Dc @ Advan-Emotion.
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Old 07-02-2014, 01:30 AM   #13
bunz559
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From my experience, the fork mounts are much more stable. I have both. I upgraded to front loaders in thought that I could just leave the front wheel on and not have to set a dirty wheel in my car. But it causes alot of draft and makes everything top heavy. Fork mounts are the way to go for smaller sedans and hatches. But I love the convenience. Lol!

How does it look like from underneath? Does that bracket bolt to anything else or is it just the roof? I still can't believe u did this. If this works well, uve pioneered something I may be considering.
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Old 07-02-2014, 01:38 AM   #14
just slothing
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Jesus ****ing Christ you did it! You are a braver man that I for taking a drill to your roof like that. I noticed you didn't tap the holes though or am I mistaken?


It looks so clean but I'm still scared to take my butter fingers to the roof of my car like that. Gonna wait a few years so the honeymoon phase wears off first.
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Old 07-02-2014, 02:42 AM   #15
Advan-Emotion
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bunz559 View Post
From my experience, the fork mounts are much more stable. I have both. I upgraded to front loaders in thought that I could just leave the front wheel on and not have to set a dirty wheel in my car. But it causes alot of draft and makes everything top heavy. Fork mounts are the way to go for smaller sedans and hatches. But I love the convenience. Lol!

How does it look like from underneath? Does that bracket bolt to anything else or is it just the roof? I still can't believe u did this. If this works well, uve pioneered something I may be considering.
I totally forgot to take pictures of it, but all 8 bolts are tightened by 10mm nuts inside the car, pretty much how it came factory on other models.

Installed the RBC035 along with a Yakima thru-axle adapter. the Nomad sat pretty solid on the way home. . I am eyeing on the RockyMounts Thru-axle lock but couldnt find much user review. Anyone has experience using the lock with 20mm axle?

Quote:
Originally Posted by just slothing View Post
Jesus ****ing Christ you did it! You are a braver man that I for taking a drill to your roof like that. I noticed you didn't tap the holes though or am I mistaken?


It looks so clean but I'm still scared to take my butter fingers to the roof of my car like that. Gonna wait a few years so the honeymoon phase wears off first.
Yes sir! Drill it while it is new so you got to enjoy it even more .
I will be very un-happy if the wagon is released before I even got to put a rack top lol.


BTW I will post some pic tomorrow with the bike mounted

Dc @ Advan-Emotion
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Old 07-02-2014, 12:54 PM   #16
Advan-Emotion
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Old 07-02-2014, 10:48 PM   #17
sovereign01
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haha thats awesome! You have some serious balls.

I'm pretty sure regulators in Aus could declare a car a wreak for modifying the roof structure like that though. :-O
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Old 07-03-2014, 03:32 AM   #18
bunz559
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Looks good. Might have to sell my old setup and buy something like this.
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Old 07-04-2014, 09:39 AM   #19
The_Magistrate
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Awesome! I am so mad that Subaru didn't offer a roof rack for the WRX. The fact you made it look so easy is amazing!
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Old 07-08-2014, 07:52 PM   #20
csusnowboard
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Default Awsome work

Wow, that is seriously awesome work.... now we can all see how easy it would have been for Subaru to just include these from the factory! So upset they didn't.... I was ready to trade in my 08 STI for the 15 WRX on day one if it hadn't been for the lack of factory mounting points. Now I am probably going to hold on to her until they fix this oversight... or until this guy opens a shop to install these aftermarket mounts
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Old 07-09-2014, 01:59 PM   #21
art@grimmspeed
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Great job OP, the final product came out rather nicely. I've gotta drill into my FXT for my rear spoiler soon and now I've got some encouragement to do so!
-Art
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Old 07-09-2014, 04:38 PM   #22
Advan-Emotion
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Knowing the worst that could happen, is having to fill the holes with silicon and calling it a day. Not much else can go wrong.

Do use a sharp, small bit to drill your pilot hole to keep everything centered. Big drill bit tend to "walk" a lot in the beginning.

Dc
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Old 07-13-2014, 10:07 AM   #23
subwrx15
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thanks for posting.. I will be doing the same to mine in a few weeks..
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Old 07-31-2014, 05:56 PM   #24
krazy
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custom roofrack brackets!

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Hey DC, someone linked me this post! You should have let me know man, thanks for the awesome post and car looks GREAT!! I can link other 2015 owners this now if they ever hit me up for the brackets!

krazy
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Old 07-31-2014, 05:56 PM   #25
krazy
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custom roofrack brackets!

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Hey DC, someone linked me this post! You should have let me know man, thanks for the awesome post and car looks GREAT!! I can link other 2015 owners this now if they ever hit me up for the brackets!

krazy
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