I was doing some AI research about wind noise from the stock Expedition Roof Rack. The first recommendation was to install a fairing, which I'd already done with very minor effect. The second recommendation was to lower the rack by 25mm using a replacement bracket kit. This supposedly decreases wind noise considerably.

However, I can't find a lowering kit except on aliexpress and shipping from China is $270. Ridiculous. Has anyone ever seen such a kit for sale in the the U.S.?

My other thought was to take the current brackets to a shop to see if they could chop out 1" from the middle and then weld the two halves back together. That would maintain the custom design necessary on the upper and lower part of the brackets. Thoughts?