is there a way to lubricate the sunroof tracks?
#16
Rennlist Member
I did a complete right up on Greg Nicol's site over the sunroof revamp.
Just an FYI, if you lubricate the tracks of the sunroof, you are asking for trouble down the road. The lubricant will attract dirt, dust and anything airborn. This will eventually put gouges in the tracks as well as wear out the nylon glides. Then you will be replacing parts when you find your sunroof does not work at all...not to mention destroying the motor.
The reason the sunroof does not work properly is lack of maintenance. The only items that received grease was the spiral cables that ride through the tube tunnels. These cables are driven by the motor gear which is compressed and meshed with the cables. The cables are attached to the shoes that ride in the tracks. After time, dust and dirt get into the tubes and cause the whole system to lag and make the motor work harder. Additionally, the grease becomes old and hard which contributes to the lag. Once this happens, you will find that as soon as the sunroof closes to the point of lowering the wind flap, it slows or stops.
Want your sunroof to work flawlessly? Take it apart and clean it...especially the cables and the inside of the tube tunnels. When done, apply a little bit of grease to the cables and watch your sunroof zip back and forth effortlessly. Make sure the tracks are cleaned with steel wool and that they are dry of lubricant. Get new nylon glides if you have to. Clean all the parts well.
This is the correct way to fix your sunroof and will eliminate the issues for many years.
Just an FYI, if you lubricate the tracks of the sunroof, you are asking for trouble down the road. The lubricant will attract dirt, dust and anything airborn. This will eventually put gouges in the tracks as well as wear out the nylon glides. Then you will be replacing parts when you find your sunroof does not work at all...not to mention destroying the motor.
The reason the sunroof does not work properly is lack of maintenance. The only items that received grease was the spiral cables that ride through the tube tunnels. These cables are driven by the motor gear which is compressed and meshed with the cables. The cables are attached to the shoes that ride in the tracks. After time, dust and dirt get into the tubes and cause the whole system to lag and make the motor work harder. Additionally, the grease becomes old and hard which contributes to the lag. Once this happens, you will find that as soon as the sunroof closes to the point of lowering the wind flap, it slows or stops.
Want your sunroof to work flawlessly? Take it apart and clean it...especially the cables and the inside of the tube tunnels. When done, apply a little bit of grease to the cables and watch your sunroof zip back and forth effortlessly. Make sure the tracks are cleaned with steel wool and that they are dry of lubricant. Get new nylon glides if you have to. Clean all the parts well.
This is the correct way to fix your sunroof and will eliminate the issues for many years.
#18
Team Owner
to work on the sunroof, and clean and lube try this.
Open the roof put a big blanket on the seats
open the doors,
get a few rags and some WD40 ,
spray the tracks with the WD40 and then wipe them clean,
This will take a few tries as the old lubricant will be dried out.
Then get some white spray grease and carefully spray the tracks, not much here.
Close the roof and open it a few times to distribute the grease apply more if necessary.
Also spray a good quality oil on the front air deflector hinges and spring arms.
Then close the roof, get some spray silicone,
and from the outside spray a generous amount on the black seal, let it sit for minute,
while carefully wiping off the over spray on the paint.
Use some quick detailer on a rag to remove the silicone.
Open the roof and wipe the silicone off the seal.
this should keep the roof working well.
Open the roof put a big blanket on the seats
open the doors,
get a few rags and some WD40 ,
spray the tracks with the WD40 and then wipe them clean,
This will take a few tries as the old lubricant will be dried out.
Then get some white spray grease and carefully spray the tracks, not much here.
Close the roof and open it a few times to distribute the grease apply more if necessary.
Also spray a good quality oil on the front air deflector hinges and spring arms.
Then close the roof, get some spray silicone,
and from the outside spray a generous amount on the black seal, let it sit for minute,
while carefully wiping off the over spray on the paint.
Use some quick detailer on a rag to remove the silicone.
Open the roof and wipe the silicone off the seal.
this should keep the roof working well.