Hi all

Earlier this year I was fortunate to pick up, at a very good price, a very lightly used set of genuine Superb III roof bars for my 2023 Superb Hatchback. This morning, I finally got round to putting them on the car for the first time in order to test fit my new roof box.

Anyway, when fitting the bars to the car - which I am well versed in doing as the genuine Superb bars use exactly the same fitting mechanism as the genuine bars I had for my Rapid Spaceback - I realised there was nothing covering the metal clamps on the sides that would come into context with the door frame and exterior of the car.

Now. I’m sure that on my Rapid ones, those bits of metal that hook into the holes in the doorframe came covered in foam rubber on the side that would come into contact with the bodywork. But on the Superb bars there was nothing, and no sign that there ever had been.

If anyone here has the genuine Superb III hatchback roof bars, could you please have a look at yours and tell me if there’s anything on those pieces of metal that go into the door frame to stop them coming into context with and scratching the paintwork?

Thanks

Chris

Hi Chris,

I don't have the genuine bars, but do have Thule bars and they don't have rubber pads either...I was really hesitant the first time I fitted them, what with having a couple of kayaks on the roof and clamped down hard "Rock the boat, rock the car!", but they were fine, no scratches to the paint anywhere.

That being said, I'm a bit OCD about these sorts of things and you've reminded me to look for some thin rubber sticky pad material to put on the clamps!

Cheers,

Nick

Edited 29 July, 202529 Jul by CubbyQ

47 minutes ago, CubbyQ said:

Hi Chris,

I don't have the genuine bars, but do have Thule bars and they don't have rubber pads either...I was really hesitant the first time I fitted them, what with having a couple of kayaks on the roof and clamped down hard "Rock the boat, rock the car!", but they were fine, no scratches to the paint anywhere.

That being said, I'm a bit OCD about these sorts of things and you've reminded me to look for some thin rubber sticky pad material to put on the clamps!

Cheers,

Nick

I think I might try and cover the offending metal with some of this: https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/black-self-adhesive-felt-sheet-a4/5728371000.html

I don't have Skoda roof racks, but I use Pro-rack and it's clamps have a thick clear plastic film on the side that faces/contacts the roof.

Similar to that clear film between the rear door sill and the rear wheel arch.

So no chance of scratching when the clamps r fully tightened down.

Edited 29 July, 202529 Jul by JR RS

15 minutes ago, chrisgreen said:

I think I might try and cover the offending metal with some of this: https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/black-self-adhesive-felt-sheet-a4/5728371000.html

That looks good, and dead cheap too - well found.