Bolts for Roof Rack? Welded on?

[BP RETIRED]

For those of you who have had your roof rack off. The bolt that is in the roof itself...was it welded to the roof of the tahoe?......or how was it placed/fastened in there?
Getting ready to install my roof rack and I got the hex type shaped bolts that slide into the holes in the roof, but I must be missing something. When you put the rack on and screw it to the bolt you can just simply removed the bolt with with the screw right from the roof?

 

[felixgun]

Hmm good question. I can look next time I'm at my truck and report back. I currently have my roof rack off and just put some shorter screws in there to make sure the holes are filled.

 

[KMeloney]

What, exactly, is the question? Are you asking how the female, threaded sleeves are set in the roof? Or, are you asking something else? If the former, them I'm pretty sure they've been welded in place at the factory. I can't imagine they'd be set some other way, or else the roof rack could easily fall off the truck.

 

[Goodinblack]

I don't think they are welded in, someone here drilled them out. They are pushed in and then maybe crimped from the underside........

 

[OHSIXX]

Pretty sure they are welded....

 

[BP RETIRED]

Pretty sure they are welded....

Ya...this is what im thinking also...I may have to find a way to go under the headliner to make this work....

 

[southview]

they are what we call in the auto industry as NUTSERTS. They are put in like a rivet and you need to put a sealer around them before setting them in.Google nutsert.

 

[Intimidator3]

Always remember to seal your nuts. One time I forgot and now my nutsert...