|
|
|
|
| Author |
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Cornelius, OR
Posts: 2,140
|
OEM Seals vs. Aftermarket
Does anyone have some experience with aftermarket seals for their 911. I have a '69 Coupe and I need both door seals, hood seal, the seal that goes around the engine bay to seal the cooling tin, and several others. I have found several people selling aftermarket seals that they describe as high quality reproductions, are they worth a damn compared to OEM seals. Is it worth paying the extra bank to get the OEM ones that I need?
-Britain
__________________
'69 912 w/ 2.3L Type-4 Turbo Engine '74 914 1825lbs, JDM Subaru STi Spec-C Engine, Lotus Suspension, 930 Trans. '80 924 AAN 5-Cyl, Corvette C5 Transaxle - Team UBoot Rennwerks -- www.britainracing.com -- |
||
09-11-2004, 06:59 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Ags, Mx or McAllen, TX
Posts: 2,792
|
I just pay over $1000 dlls for all seals (door, hood, windshield, rear windows, rear 1/4 panels pop off etc..) and I don't find any special quality if I need to replace one I'll try an aftermarket stuff
__________________
X/A |
||
|
09-11-2004, 08:09 PM
|
|
|
GAFB
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Raleigh, NC, USA
Posts: 7,842
|
Speak with the parts deparment at Stoddard Imports. They are extremely knowledgeable about which seals are "safe" to buy reproduction, and which are best kept OEM.
__________________
Several BMWs |
||
|
09-11-2004, 08:15 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: UK, Cheltenham
Posts: 391
|
From personal experience I would say that a lot of aftermarket parts use inferior rubber compounds (recycled, etc) and are not remotely as durable as OEM.
Just my 2p.
__________________
"Racing is Life. Anything that happens before, or after, is just waiting" 1988 Carrera 3.2 Sport Coupe - my mistress 2012 BMW F11 touring - the dog bus! 2017 VW T6 Transporter - the holiday bus/workhorse |
||
|
09-11-2004, 10:49 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Liverpool, New York
Posts: 184
|
Britain, for what it's worth, I've restored & freshened up more than a few 911's, 912's. I will NEVER use aftermarket seals again after my second experience on the cars. The time it takes to make them work & fit is more than offset by the fit and price of OEM. There are a few Porsche vendors out there that will offer deals on the real thing. Steve
|
||
|
09-12-2004, 12:33 PM
|
|
|
Registered abUser
|
You have to take into consideration when the part was produced. No one wants rubber that has been sitting on a shelf for 10 years. Especially soft foam type weatherstrips that can lose their resiliency, become brittle or just plain rotten. Old stale rubber is never good. Find out if the factory part has a born-on-date and use discretion. I would rather use aftermarket fresh rubber than old factory, but the best of all worlds is freshly manufactured factory stuff. You know you're going to get a good fit from the factory.
Rubber should be supple and almost moist. If it looks old, dry, and tired, it probably is not going to last long. Last edited by TerryH; 09-12-2004 at 12:52 PM.. |
||
|
09-12-2004, 12:40 PM
|
|
|
1981 Porsche 911SC 3.0L
