Any suggestions on sealing up the loose rivnut's from my OE roof rack?

[off-roader]

I removed my factory roof rack which was bolted to the roof via 8 riv-nuts (pop-riveted nuts). With age, they've loosened in their holes & can now easily allow water to leak in.

Is there an epoxy I can apply from the exterior to properly seal them to the body? I was going to try Silicon but I know from personal experience it doesn't age well when exposed to the sun.

TIA!

 

[Vegasrandall]

have you tried reflaring them with the rivnut tool?

 

[off-roader]

Don't have a mandrel to do it properly. Besides even if you reflare it, there's still a good possibility it will leak unless it's sealed to the roof.

 

[Chi-Town]

I use a structural adhesive from 3M. It dries to a smooth paint-able surface and will bond to almost all metals. Then I thread in the original bolt with some liquid thread sealant to finish it off.

 

[hoser]

If you can remove the rivnut's, you can replace them with well nuts. I'm assuming you are keeping the rack off.

 

[off-roader]

If you can remove the rivnut's, you can replace them with well nuts. I'm assuming you are keeping the rack off.

View attachment 149304

Where can I find these?

 

[hoser]

Search "well nut" and they are pretty much everywhere in every size. I think the important part is cleaning all the rust up and painting the hole. Maybe even drill it out if the hole is no longer round.

I was concerned about the rubber deteriorating from UV rays and so I used a rosette washer to cover it up. I didn't want outer edge of the rosette washer rubbing on the paint and so I used a flat washer to give it a mm of clearance =)