I recently purchased a set of these vintage roof rack crossbars but they don't have the black rubber pieces (see my photo for my example) that go along the bar. I'm assuming they are no longer available anywhere so I was wondering if anyone on here has made some or found a similar substitute? They are basically just rubber pieces, it can't be that difficult to figure something out.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Someone on FB had a person making new crossbars with the black things. Several people asked about just the black things but nothing ever came of it.

__________________
1985 300CD, CA
172 Anthrazitgrau/Palomino 154

1985 300TD, CA
040 Schwarz/Palomino 154/3rd row seat

1985 300TD, CA
473 Champagner/Palomino 154/Cargo cover

Damn, I'm sure they would sell some considering most of the originals are most likely dried up by now.

I found this quote on another board when doing more research about the cross bars:

"Those five plastic grommets you see on the rails were a feature on later models to reduce wind noise, early models are just plain chrome rails."

I wonder if those rubber pieces actually worked in reducing wind noise caused by the cross bars.