i removed my racks today and the spring steel retainer clip broke/pulled through. does anybody know if there is a better clamping system out there?

 

Here is what I did as a cheap fix.

Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - wallz's Album: roof rack fix

The alternative would be to upgrade to the Yakima/Thule type systems.

 

Walz, thats cool. I think I might have borrowed your spacer idea a long time ago, but then I threw away the factory cross bars and went with the Yak Rack. I used the composite decking board from Home Depot for my material for the spacers. It was cheap, readily availabe, and easy to shape.

 

wallz, thanks for the good idea!