Roof drip molding ...flapping around...hanging off the side

Went through the car wash last night (touchless, still bad due to chemicals but my black vehicle was nearly white from salt so...), anyway on the way home I heard a thump sound from the passenger side rear like something hitting the body. When I got home (maybe 5 miles away), I took a look and the rubber drip molding from the roof (between the roof rail feet) was hanging down.

Anyone have experience with this part coming loose? Looks like it might just be a friction fit but I kind of tried pushing it back in place last night (in the dark) so I couldn't tell if there's supposed to be something there adhering it to the channel. Do I need some double-sided tape?

 

just take em off, they dont do anything except hold gunk and water in. but if ya want them on just stick it back in, theres nothing holding em on, the can just slide in and out of the channel

 

I would just RTV it at the rear mount point to hold it down

 

car wash sometimes got them loose on my truck, I just push them back and they stay fine in channels.

 

I had this happen to me. The first time it happened, I laughed, then slid the rubber molding back in. They aren't secured down, they just slide back into the channel. Then happened again several weeks later, then again... Each time was after running it through the car wash.

Another member on this site (I can't remember who) suggest I put a dab of clear silicone on each end and in the middle to secure it in place. Haven't had a problem since. I did both sides for good measure.

Go to your local O'Reilys or what auto parts store is near you and pick a tube of clear silicone for $11. That's what I did.

 

One of the first jobs when I got my 4runner was to remove these rubber strips.
There was a lot of dirt underneath and paint damage from mounting the roof rack (from the previous owner).
I cleaned it up and screwed a few replacement screws with sealing rings into the holes for the roof rack. I leave it open and prefer to see where the dirt and rust is, even if it doesn't look quite so good.

 

3M molding tape, 3M

$35 3M Windo-Weld Round Ribbon Sealer, 08612, 3/8 in x 15 ft Kit

butyl adhesive (stuff used to hold windows down), or leave it open like the Tundra and Tacoma.

 

I took mine out yesterday, cleaned the bottom of the molding strips as well as the channels they sit in, and applied 3 dabs of RTV sealant (one on each and and the middle) to hold it down. Should be dried up today but I'll wait a few days to take it to the car wash again.

 

This. Silicone isn't great for painted surfaces. Butyl tape (mastic) works well and is easily replaceable. McMaster-Carr sells rolls of it. You can also use "emblem tape" which is foam with really sticky stuff on both sides- I used it on my ditch moldings when they were loose.