Removal Of The Internal Cross Bars On A Subaru?

The user is trying to remove the Aero roof crossbar from a used 2018 Forester to install their Thule system. They have a torx screwdriver and instruction sheet from the dealer, but the cross bars are rusted in place. To fix this, they need to remove the Front Crossbar (A) and T30 Hex Key (C) from the packaging, loosen the two top bolts on the front Crossbar (A), and gently rock the bolt back.

The user has been waiting for over three months for the OEM Subaru Fixed Cross Bars on their 2018 WRX and found a YouTube video on the process. They follow the steps to remove the factory cross bars, which involve loosening the torx screw about 10 turns, removing the interior trim from the roof pillars up, and pulling the plastic piece off. They also remove the yellow T bolt from all four corners, and the cross bars should come off.

The mounting bolts for the OEM roof rack are only accessible from inside the car, and the owner needs to remove the roof liner to access them. They use an angled die grinder and a cutting wheel to remove the cross bars, cut off the screws, and fill the holes.

The user also removes the headliner, various clips, and four nuts that hold the racks to the roof. They then remove the rails and fill the holes to install the Thule system. The user hopes that the process will be worth it as they have waited for the crossbars to be installed.