Denali/Escalade roof rack end caps

[gooffeyguy]

How do the body colored end caps attach to the roof rack? I just noticed my front driver side is sticking up a bit. I didn't want to try to push it down too hard in case it's attached with a bolt or screw.

2001 Yukon SLT
2012 Yukon Denali XL
2011 Yukon Denali RIP 5/20/18

 

[Fosscore]

The part that slides into the chrome rack just has a couple little plastic tabs to guide it into the rack.

Sorry no pics handy.

You need to lift up on the actual end (the rounded part of the cap).

There is a mounting post with a metal ring that helps secure the cap to the base on the rack.

The rack is held into the roof with a series of torx screws. 2 screws under each cap and one in the center with a raised mounting post that the rack slides a touch before it will be able to pull up and off.

Grab the end cap firmly and pull up and then pull/away from the chrome rack.

If it is the first time, they will be snug. Just be firm. You will then see how everything fits together as mentioned.

I probably have some pics in my build thread, but you should be able to get it off.

Install is the reverse. If you take them on/off too many times they can get loose and fly off.

Car wash final dry with the blower or cruising down the interstate is notoriously for blowing them off once they get loose.

Ask me how I know. Hope that all made sense.

 

[gooffeyguy]

The part that slides into the chrome rack just has a couple little plastic tabs to guide it into the rack.

Sorry no pics handy.

You need to lift up on the actual end (the rounded part of the cap).

There is a mounting post with a metal ring that helps secure the cap to the base on the rack.

The rack is held into the roof with a series of torx screws. 2 screws under each cap and one in the center with a raised mounting post that the rack slides a touch before it will be able to pull up and off.

Grab the end cap firmly and pull up and then pull/away from the chrome rack.

If it is the first time, they will be snug. Just be firm. You will then see how everything fits together as mentioned.

I probably have some pics in my build thread, but you should be able to get it off.

Install is the reverse. If you take them on/off too many times they can get loose and fly off.

Car wash final dry with the blower or cruising down the interstate is notoriously for blowing them off once they get loose.

Ask me how I know. Hope that all made sense.

So the end of the cap is just a friction fit holding it down? This is the factory rack that came with the vehicle and this front tip appears to be up off the surface about an 1/8-1/4" and before messing with it I just wanted to make sure it just pushes down to secure it

2001 Yukon SLT
2012 Yukon Denali XL
2011 Yukon Denali RIP 5/20/18

 

[Tonyrodz]

How do the body colored end caps attach to the roof rack? I just noticed my front driver side is sticking up a bit. I didn't want to try to push it down too hard in case it's attached with a bolt or screw.

2001 Yukon SLT
2012 Yukon Denali XL
2011 Yukon Denali RIP 5/20/18

Hopefully that won't blow off on the highway.

 

[Fosscore]

Hopefully that won't blow off on the highway.

^This.

Give the end cap a push down. That compression ring should seat and the post (make side) on the rack itself into the open hole (female receiving end).

It may have just popped up due to wind or car wash. Hard to tell. Sometimes that metal ring pops off the post where it is originally seated and sticks in the end cap.

Having said that, if it has never been off, then maybe just has lifted.

There is no secret screw or body plug holding it in place.

Just the front tabs into the chrome rack and the post make and female and down onto the rack itself.

 

[kbuskill]

The post and ring @Fosscore is talking about is actually the older '02-'06 Esky style.

The newer ones have a flat metal clip but they still install/remove the same.

 

[Fosscore]

The post and ring @Fosscore is talking about is actually the older '02-'06 Esky style.

The newer ones have a flat metal clip but they still install/remove the same.

Thx sir. Sorry if any confusion. I guess both of my Esky racks are the older style.

Learned something new.

 

[kbuskill]

Thx sir. Sorry if any confusion. I guess both of my Esky racks are the older style.

Learned something new.

No worries... they both use the same method for install and removal, just a different way of attachment.

Wish I had a pic to show the difference but I don't think I ever took any. The only reason I know this is because I had the end caps for both at one time.

 

[09 L9H]

The post and ring @Fosscore is talking about is actually the older '02-'06 Esky style.

The newer ones have a flat metal clip but they still install/remove the same.

The '02-'06 caps will fit NNBS racks right? I'm about to buy a set of caps off eBay and want to make sure. Listing says they fit an '03-'06 Escalade

 

[kbuskill]

The '02-'06 caps will fit NNBS racks right? I'm about to buy a set of caps off eBay and want to make sure. Listing says they fit an '03-'06 Escalade

Externally they are the same. The way they attach is slightly different as mentioned above.

If the black plastic pieces underneath the end caps come with the end caps then its no big deal.

If they don't you need to check the black plastic pieces that you already have.

As mentioned the older '02-'06 use a round post and the newer ones use a flat metal clip that slides down onto a flat vertical piece of plastic on the black piece.

Hard to find decent pics of the newer style.

Here are some pics of the older (round post) style...

And a pic of the newer style that has the flat piece...

You see the flat vertical piece to the right of the bolt???

A metal clip attaches inside the newer style end caps and slides down over that piece.

 

[09 L9H]

Externally they are the same. The way they attach is slightly different as mentioned above.

If the black plastic pieces underneath the end caps come with the end caps then its no big deal.

If they don't you need to check the black plastic pieces that you already have.

As mentioned the older '02-'06 use a round post and the newer ones use a flat metal clip that slides down onto a flat vertical piece of plastic on the black piece.

Hard to find decent pics of the newer style.

Here are some pics of the older (round post) style...
View attachment 217561
View attachment 217562

And a pic of the newer style that has the flat piece...
View attachment 217563
You see the flat vertical piece to the right of the bolt???

A metal clip attaches inside the newer style end caps and slides down over that piece.

Lol I bought some this afternoon so we’ll see how it goes. Thanks for the info


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[kbuskill]

Lol I bought some this afternoon so we’ll see how it goes. Thanks for the info


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Do you know for sure what year your rack came off of?

Does it have the black plastic that goes under the end caps?

If so can you take a picture of the pieces the end caps sit down onto?

 

[09 L9H]

Do you know for sure what year your rack came off of?

Does it have the black plastic that goes under the end caps?

If so can you take a picture of the pieces the end caps sit down onto?

eBay listing said the rack came off of a 2010-2012 Escalade. I don’t think English was the guy’s first language. Also don’t have pictures cause I haven’t unpacked them yet. They’re just sitting in a corner of my apartment

 

[kbuskill]

eBay listing said the rack came off of a 2010-2012 Escalade. I don’t think English was the guy’s first language. Also don’t have pictures cause I haven’t unpacked them yet. They’re just sitting in a corner of my apartment

Well keep us all posted. I hope you get the ones you need.

I guess if not... your the guinea pig to figure out how to make it work... lol

 

[adventurenali92]

Interesting read. I forgot about the different mounting posts on the caps between the years. I guess I know why my end caps aren’t totally flush sitting on the plastic. My racks are off a 2010 esky esv but the caps are from a 2003. Guess I need to find a set of caps from an NNBS and swap them out so they sit correctly. Lol

 

[gooffeyguy]

Can these be set down into place by hitting with the palm of your hand or does it require more force like with a rubber mallet or something? I just don't want to use too much force trying to seat it down flush to the gasket and damage it by having the post/flat tab start to push up through the top.

2001 Yukon SLT
2012 Yukon Denali XL
2011 Yukon Denali RIP 5/20/18

 

[Fosscore]

Palm of your hand is all it takes to seat it with the post style fitting. I have the post style fitting on both of my trucks.

 

[kbuskill]

Mine is the newer style but as Foss pointed out... palm of the hand is all you should need.

 

[RGB1978]

They simply snap into place. Pushing down on them by hand will be fine.


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[gooffeyguy]

I guess that's as far down as they go. Both of my fronts are like that, they have about 1/8" gap at the very front tip. The rears are fully touching the gasket the entire length. It's just the fronts, and only the pointed part, that doesn't quite sit on the gasket. I've tried pushing them down and hitting them with my palm to seat them down further but they won't.

2001 Yukon SLT
2012 Yukon Denali XL
2011 Yukon Denali RIP 5/20/18