How to Remove a GM Car Top Carrier
Car top carriers, or roof racks, are handy for transporting cargo or equipment that won't fit, or that you may just rather not have inside the vehicle. Many GM vehicles come factory equipped with a car top carrier that is permanently mounted to the roof of the vehicle with sheet metal screws. If it becomes necessary to remove the rack for repair, replacement or to paint the vehicle, you can do it in a few minutes with a screwdriver.
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Things You'll Need
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Clean cloths
- Adhesive remover
- Silicone sealant
- 200 grit sandpaper
- Fiberglass body filler
- Touch up paint pen
Instructions
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1
Remove the mounting screws from the bases of the carrier mounts where the carrier connects to the top of the roof of the vehicle using a Phillips-head screwdriver. If there are covers over the heads of the mounting screws, gently insert the tip of a flat-head screwdriver under the covers and pry loose.
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2
Grasp the railing of the carrier just above one the mounting bases with both hands. Gently wiggle the it back and forth until the bases break free from the roof of the vehicle. Repeat the procedure until the all the mounting bases are free of the roof, and lift the carrier from the vehicle.
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3
Peel off the gaskets that were between the bases and the roof using a razor blade, if necessary. Apply a small amount of adhesive remover to a cloth and rub the roof surface to remove adhesive residue.
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4
Insert the tip of a tube of silicone sealant into the mounting screw holes and fill them with silicone sealant. Wipe excess sealant with you finger so the area is smooth. If you have removed the carrier to paint the vehicle, and will be reinstalling the carrier, applying sealant is not required.
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5
Sand the areas over the mounting screw holes lightly with 200 grit sandpaper and wipe clean with a cloth. Cover the screw holes with fiberglass body filler by smoothing the filler over the holes with your finger. Allow the filler to dry.
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6
Sand the fiberglass filler smooth with 200 grit sandpaper and wipe clean. Paint the over the plugged screw holes with a touch up paint pen that matches the paint color of the vehicle.
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- Photo Credit Noel Hendrickson/Digital Vision/Getty Images
