Roof bar marking roof rails?

[ARSEY4]

Hi, I want to go for the Thule 9592 wingbars and have the Aluminium roof rails on my 4. Do people with roof bars put some kind of adhesive pad on the rail before fitting or do the bars have adequate protection not to mark the rails? Any advice to protecting the rails would be great thanks.

[geoffdunk]

I've used chopper tape before now, its a clear film we used to put on parts of Formula 1 cars to protect them. Car manufacturer put it on the leading lower edge of rear wheel arches to prevent stone chips.

[ARSEY4]

Thanks, will do a search.

[mikecassie]

I've just fitted my Thule roof bars today, a doddle to fit IMO. I used clear Gorilla Tape as I thought the clamping mechanism could mark the roof rails, it was just what I'd had lying about for a few years. I'll see how it looks over a longer period of time.

BTW I've just returned to the Audi fold after a few years in another brand, I'm hoping it's a good change.

[ARSEY4]

I've just fitted my Thule roof bars today, a doddle to fit IMO. I used clear Gorilla Tape as I thought the clamping mechanism could mark the roof rails, it was just what I'd had lying about for a few years. I'll see how it looks over a longer period of time.

BTW I've just returned to the Audi fold after a few years in another brand, I'm hoping it's a good change.

Thanks and Im sure it will be a good change. What bars did you go for?

[Graeme4130]

I tried using clear 3m tape over mine, but it removed the grip between the rails and the Thule clamps, so over time, it slipped backwards
I carry two downhill bikes on my roof, which create quite a lot of drag, and tend to drive a bit quicker than I should with them on the roof, so that might account for some of the slippage.
The thule aero bars have a rubber cover on the clamp, so haven't marked my bars yet (black)