Here is a thread where someone reported it broke after it was installed but still with an empty box: Tesla Model 3 Roof Rack – J-Bolt securing the rack snapped
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Installing the official Tesla model 3 roof rack
- Thread starter cantdecide
- Start date
Here is a thread where someone reported it broke after it was installed but still with an empty box: Tesla Model 3 Roof Rack – J-Bolt securing the rack snapped
Why do you think 130 ft lbs for the wheels is excessive? It is a very heavy car after all
After seeing all the reports of snapped bolts I decide to go out and check my rack that I installed almost a week ago. Sure enough one bolt was broken. I had no idea it was lose driving around now for a few days... granted I hadn’t put anything on it yet. I never went above 5nm because that’s when I heard the crack.
After finding my broken bolt I was questioning myself on if I had checked the tightness of the rack on all 4 corners when I finished installing. I could have sworn I did and it was all secure, so maybe it did break during the few days I was driving it and not on initial install. Just seems odd because I had nothing on the rack.
TomHudson
Member
Something tells me that someone messed up on the production of these, maybe in the hardening of the J-bolts, when welding on the threaded studs or maybe when spec-ing the material itself. I'm assuming they're snapping due to tensile stress since some of them are snapping long after they were tightened, more or less ruling out torsional stress.
They need to go back to the drawing board because this isn't an isolated incident and it's definitely a safety concern. I don't think I'd just take a replacement from the J-bolts they have on hand -- these need to be completely redone.
Dang. I was so looking forward to putting this on my car, but bike season is a couple of months away in Wisconsin...
They need to go back to the drawing board because this isn't an isolated incident and it's definitely a safety concern. I don't think I'd just take a replacement from the J-bolts they have on hand -- these need to be completely redone.
Dang. I was so looking forward to putting this on my car, but bike season is a couple of months away in Wisconsin...
Got mine installed today.
My torque wrench goes from 1.1 Nm (10 in-lbs) to 15 Nm. I set the wrench for around 2Nm (1/4 what tesla recommends).
I did hear a few worrisome cracking noises while torque'g, but I ended up using the "can I turn the lock on the crossbar" as my guide in the torque I used. When torqued to 1.1Nm I could not lock the rear crossbar. at 2Nm everything seems stable (car rocks when I push on the bars). Will drive around a few days and likely take everything off to be sure.Ski gear goes on friday! Then 12 hours to tahoe.
Also, measured that with my Yakima Fat Cat 6 Evo + T Slot adapter, the clearance to the roof is around 4". My largest bindings are 5" for my skis so going to have to not go with that solution unfortunately. Even the RPL ASSY T-Slot recommended here probably wouldn't give enough. On the other had, getting the T Slot Bolts on is a royal pain in the ass so I don't really mind.
My torque wrench goes from 1.1 Nm (10 in-lbs) to 15 Nm. I set the wrench for around 2Nm (1/4 what tesla recommends).
I did hear a few worrisome cracking noises while torque'g, but I ended up using the "can I turn the lock on the crossbar" as my guide in the torque I used. When torqued to 1.1Nm I could not lock the rear crossbar. at 2Nm everything seems stable (car rocks when I push on the bars). Will drive around a few days and likely take everything off to be sure.Ski gear goes on friday! Then 12 hours to tahoe.
Also, measured that with my Yakima Fat Cat 6 Evo + T Slot adapter, the clearance to the roof is around 4". My largest bindings are 5" for my skis so going to have to not go with that solution unfortunately. Even the RPL ASSY T-Slot recommended here probably wouldn't give enough. On the other had, getting the T Slot Bolts on is a royal pain in the ass so I don't really mind.
Ouch! wonder how long it was like that? did you notice or did the roof rack still seem stable?
Has anyone reported this to Tesla or know if they are investigating this J-Bolt issue? I've been holding off installing my roof rack as well because of this.
Neo1974
Member
Folks, fyi, I formally sent an urgent e-mail to Tesla (my local mobile team + [email protected]) with a cut and paste of all our testimonies of having J-Clips that snapped since Thursday (I have counted nine different owners).
I hope they get on top of this before someone gets hurt.
It could not hurt that they hear directly from you as well at [email protected].
I hope they get on top of this before someone gets hurt.
It could not hurt that they hear directly from you as well at [email protected].
Thank you Neo, I'm also in contact with Tesla (through [email protected] and [email protected]), and have shared this post with them to stress the severity of the problem. They asked me to send the rack back to them with the broken parts for a full review, which I did a few days ago. Hopefully they can have a look themselves and figure out what the problem is.
Thanks! Mine seems to be holding...will be installing skis this Friday and driving so will see how it goes
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