Roof Rack installation

[WWScout]

Sounds like I'll have to look you up next time in that area.

Got a bit of suprise when I went to the mazda dealership today. Looks like the guys took off the crossbars and not the rails. Now I'm going to have to see if there is a way to make the Thule Canada roof racks work. If that doesn't happen looks like I'll have to use the ones that go into the door jambs(didn't want to use those for asthetic reasons).

 

[RX7jeff]

rack

check out the "how-to" for the rack removal on this forum,...it's really good. I just traded my Canadian fill strips for a US roof rack and strips,...both my US friend and me are happy,...I had to drill three 1/4" holes in the bottom of each roof "trough",...no big deal,...I think the US factory style rack is very nice, streamlined intself and made to fit right into/on the vehicle, and VERY strong. The Canadian cars Mazda/Thule "look" aftermarket I think.

 

[WWScout]

Yes, I think I'll have to get hold of KYRedP5 and see if the offer is still good. The dealer handed me the cross bars off the car he sold and I just laughed. Wheres the guide rails? "Oh, we couldn't get those off." What the heck am I supposed to do with the cross bars?!? Almost told him where he could stick the cross bars. Oh well. I agree RX7jeff, the stock racks do look better than the after market. I just don't think they are as functional.

 

[KYREDP5]

Offer is still good man. Let me know fo sheezy though, I'm off Sunday and can pull them off, and have them in the mail Monday if you want.

 

[WWScout]

Do you know if I'll still have to drill the roof for the stock racks?

 

[privateer]

read the post on roof rack rail removal you will have to take out headliner ect.. if you are not mechanically inclined and faint of heart when it comes to your car do not do it...it requires patience and a willingness to find a solution if something goes wrong some of the trim buttons are not reusable and even the post doesnot describe all the details in doing it although it was very .as to having to drill holes call mazda and ask or ask the parts guy at your dealership to call the tech line to see if the holes are predrilled or not good luck,

 

[WWScout]

Thanks Privateer. I'll look into it. Having them would make my wife happy, thus making my life better

 

[WWScout]

Sorry I didn't get back with you before KYREDPR5. I was away most of the week. Let me take a close look at what is involved and I'll get back to you this week. Cheers!

 

[xelderx]

The Canadian issue roof rack has four brackets that bolt to the roof and then the rack bolts to the brackets. To make the Canadian issue rack fit on the American issue you would have to get the measurements for the holes where the brackets mount and drill them. Then as long as you have the brackets it just bolts up. The body lines of all the roofs are the same. Some just have more holes in them than others.

***Edit***

I actually have four of these brackets that the Canadian rack uses if any one needs them. They are the same brackets used to mount the American rack , but the American rack only uses two brackets. I got 'em if you need 'em.

 

[RX7jeff]

wimpy?

all roofs are not the same again do your homework. canada has different structure so do the japanese models for japan auto standards are set by a countrys transportation board you might be suprised at the differences in safety standards reqiured from country to country anyway good luck with your modification go with after market is my advice the factoy rack is more for a look than true function .function over form when carrying expensive bikes on your car would hate to see a trek carbon or lightspeed by the side of the road in pieces goodluck

The U.S. roof rack is one stout peice,...I just installed it on my Canadian MP5, the U.S. fill strips are braced with a metal mounting frame under the plastic cover, that frame bolts to the roof in no less than 5 places,...the cross peices bolt to this "frame", I can't imagine a stronger system.
I can see/hear your problems for mounting a bike, but for my skis/kayaks I could'nt be happier.

 

[WWScout]

Thanks for the offer xelderx. Do you think I would need those clips to mount it on? I've sent KYREDP5 an email asking if he still wants to get rid of his roof rack. The dealer is trying to figure out how much it will cost them to get the pieces but I don't have any faith left in them. Looking into a short shifter for the car. Man, I love how this thing handles. Beats the crap out of the Xterra I'm driving.

 

[pro5]

In response to "loccusst",
Here in Canada mazda does sell and make a different roof rack. For example when I bought my MP5 the cars don't even come with a roof rack like in the U.S. I asked my dealer for the rack that the U.S. cars have and he said the roof construction is different and that Mazda has made bars that fit into the roof mounted spaces provided.

The bars are very similiar to what "Thule" does for the Volkswagen vehicles where the foot pack fits into specially designed mounts on the gutter rail of the roof.

 

[loccusst]

That sounds like a better system pro5. Unless its the type that can damage your gutters. Does it follow the "curves" of the car or does it take away from the look of it? I think the U.S. model has a smooth look to it. Also I wonder why they wouldn't just make one model for both Canada and the U.S., you would think it would be cheaper.

 

[WWScout]

Did you receive my email KYREDP5? I'm still interested in your racks but I wanted to make sure you knew that I needed the rails not just the rack. That would require taking out your headliner to get them off. Looks like a lot of work. If your up for it let me know.

 

[privateer]

lots of claims being made about i did this and that i would like to see photos of the installation of the the rack changes from anybody that has done it step by step canada to us or visversa] i think the poster from canada said it best the dealer said their is a difference.the crossbars are the biggest issue with the us racks.wind lift is what will potentially cause failure. the idea that the part guys at the dealerships dont know what they are talking about is ignorance. they have acess to mazdas tech line to ask your question go ask if the racks are interchangeable or if they can be purchased. plenty of you have answered your own question if they were exchangable all buyers would have the option of choice we dont.i will say it again do your homework i have and i wanted to do it myself just look at canadas sigle bolt rack mount and ask yourself do you think that would just bolt into a hole in the roofs thin sheet metal without some structural support underneath, how many of you making claims have removed your head liner to have a look? i have ,but anyway good luck go with after market ,thules are great if you carry stuff all the time. function over form a engineering mantra.

 

[WWScout]

The thing is, I'm trying to put a U.S. stock rack on a U.S. car that came without them. I doubt that they reinforced only the models that were 2003s and not the 2003.5s althought I could be wrong. My wife wants the stock racks. So, I'm trying to do what ever I can to put them on for her. I don't like the fact that the Thule and Yakima both go into the door jam on the car. They probably won't be used that much but if I decide to put my bike or surfboard on it and it blows off, well that's what I pay insurance for. It's just that the dealers IMO don't want to go into taking out the headliner to put the rack on. You can buy the 2003.5 with the roof rack on it. It's a factory option. So I think I could install it. Not sure though

 

[loccusst]

If you have the U.S. model and want to put the U.S. model rack on it will work. They don't make different chasis based on a roof rack or not. Too high of cost.
just make sure you get all of the parts. If you need the roof rack part numbers let me know.

 

[privateer]

as i stated earlier ask the part guy to call the tech line to see if the holes are predrilled .if they are it will save you one step.if not you will have to drill the holes 4 on each side. the problem is making sure that you have perfect alignment remember when done at the factory they have templates and drill jigs ect... the tolerances from the factory are very tight you would not want to have sloppy holes potential leaks anyway all of this happens after you remove headliner which is not difficult if you are mechanically inclined but if you are not leave it alone.if the dealer is refusing to do it call mazda and ask for help a good body shop should be able to do it for you.but if you could get the japan or canadas racks installed i would like to know cause as ive said all info i found says no.and if i found the wrong info i would like to do the modification myself as i like canadas rack set solid.,as as everyone post to get part from the japan market very cost prohibitive even if they were available which the majority are not. good luck

 

[RX7jeff]

I think there's some confusion here,...a fair number of us on this forum have traded and installed US style stips/roofracks for the Canadian "flush" style roof "fill strips"(the Canucks want the roofracks, the Yanks want the way "cleaner" look?!).
The US rack strips come with attached studs for mounting and there is a quite large rubber gasket that seals the holes on the roof once everything is bolted down(up?!), I just installed the US rack on my Canadian MP5,...yes,...there were some holes to be drilled, but it was very straightforward.
There is a VERY good thread on this site that shows with pictures how to remove the headliner, remove the US roofrack etc.
That thread has all the info you'll need to tackle this swap.

Again, the Canadian MP5 does not come with roofracks, but you can buy a "thule" style rack that bolts up to the roof via removing the four plastic covers to the mounting holes under the roof "strips". This is not the same roofrack that comes stock on the US MP5. Mazda charges BIG dollars for the "thule" built Canadian rack and $170+US for the Canadian style roof strips. Some of us crafty types have found a way around buying from the dealership.

as i stated earlier ask the part guy to call the tech line to see if the holes are predrilled .if they are it will save you one step.if not you will have to drill the holes 4 on each side. the problem is making sure that you have perfect alignment remember when done at the factory they have templates and drill jigs ect... the tolerances from the factory are very tight you would not want to have sloppy holes potential leaks anyway all of this happens after you remove headliner which is not difficult if you are mechanically inclined but if you are not leave it alone.if the dealer is refusing to do it call mazda and ask for help a good body shop should be able to do it for you.but if you could get the japan or canadas racks installed i would like to know cause as ive said all info i found says no.and if i found the wrong info i would like to do the modification myself as i like canadas rack set solid.,as as everyone post to get part from the japan market very cost prohibitive even if they were available which the majority are not. good luck

 

[KYREDP5]

Sorry, still havn't had a chance to check my e-mail at home yet. Yeah, I'm aware that you'll need the whole thing, and I'm willing to do that. I just don't know when my next oppertunity to take it all off will be. I'll let you know more after I get a chance to look at the e-mail you sent me.

Did you receive my email KYREDP5? I'm still interested in your racks but I wanted to make sure you knew that I needed the rails not just the rack. That would require taking out your headliner to get them off. Looks like a lot of work. If your up for it let me know.