Has this happened to your windshield seal as well? Picture included

[x98boardwell]

My windshield seal on the top left and right corners tend to fold in-wards and leaves a gap where water and air could get (never driven in the rain) if I was ever caught in such weather. It happens on top at the corner of the driver and passenger side.

My questions are:
1) Is this normal?
2) How to fix?

The seal looks to be fairly new (not 22 years old) but I have no idea what could be causing this to happen. If I fold the seal back to normal it will stay that way until I hit some highways speeds at which point it will start to suck in on top again.

[richard003@wind]

Mine has done that as well, but only on the car that has had the gasket replaced. There is a thread somewhere on here that talks about shimming the bottom of the window so that it won't "slide" down.

[Zeke]

If it doesn't happen at the bottom, it may happen at the top. People that have this problem usually insert something to prop it up. Dum dum and caulk are the 2 favorites. Caulk is soft initially, so you have to get the rubber to stay up on the edge for 24 hours.

You can nudge your glass down with a professional suction cup.

[magnum10]

I had the same issue with mine. I noticed it after I had the windshield replaced. The shop had suggested to lift the corner and inject their sealent in. It worked and you cant tell that there was any issues. Main point is, it doesnt leak.

[tvanbroekhoven]

I had it too. Filled it up with some knead-able (is this correct English ?? :-) ) 3M body sealant

[x98boardwell]

Guys, thanks for confirming that I am not alone. I like the "moving the windshield up" bit and putting a sealant of some kind underneath on the bottom.

I will investigate further and if you have any other advice feel free to comment.

Bryan

[moneymanager]

There are a lot of threads on this subject, here's one of the better ones. See Randy Blalock's comments on the function of the aluminum molding. Unfortunately if the rubber if tired, which yours is, you won't be able to do this trick. But you might do it after you replace the rubber gasket, which is the right way to make the repair. Dollars to doughnuts whoever installs your new gasket won't know how to do it right. Two things to watch for: only use an OEM seal; most others are junk. Stay away from silicon which makes a future repaint very difficult.
Gap between Rubber Windshield Seal & Body

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Very common 911 situation, as you can see. The knowledgeable make a simple tool to safely pound against the rounded corner, the idea being to re-shape the aluminum trim strip inside the gasket so that it moves farther into the corner and thus pulls the gasket along with it.

[snbush67]

Try NAPA 4194 Glass Setting Butyl Tape it is a pliable round ribbon type sealer that you can tuck under the lip and it will hold it up so that you can work the windshield and seal into correct alignment.

Its pliable and sticky like chewing gum.

or...just tuck it in there and leave it.

[rattlsnak]

The problem with using any type of sealer is you're never going to get the w/s out again without the strong possibility of it breaking.

[DasBoot]

Originally Posted by snbush67

Try NAPA 4194 Glass Setting Butyl Tape it is a pliable round ribbon type sealer that you can tuck under the lip and it will hold it up so that you can work the windshield and seal into correct alignment.

Its pliable and sticky like chewing gum.

or...just tuck it in there and leave it.

That's what I did. This stuff stays pliable, so it seals but does not "glue" the windshield in place. Easy to remove if necessary.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

But the ultimate solution is not kludges like glues and sealers, it is getting the aluminum trim strip to place the gasket where it's supposed to be. That's one of the main reasons the trim strips are there. They're not cosmetic, they're 1/to expand the gasket slightly so it seals, and 2/locate the gasket so it isn't leaving gaps at the corners.

But if you want to use chewing gum or Miracle Whip, goforit.

[William930t]

In this thread I have pictures of the homemade tool for tapping the seal back into shape, it really works!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/330161-gap-between-rubber-windshield-seal-body-post3912956.html#post3912956

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

But the ultimate solution is not kludges like glues and sealers, it is getting the aluminum trim strip to place the gasket where it's supposed to be. That's one of the main reasons the trim strips are there. They're not cosmetic, they're 1/to expand the gasket slightly so it seals, and 2/locate the gasket so it isn't leaving gaps at the corners.

But if you want to use chewing gum or Miracle Whip, goforit.

Why are you so nice?

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Too old to continue being charming.

[dshepp806]

It's OK Stephan: I don't think anyone here would use chewing gum or Miracle Whip anyways,..be glad that, at least, you're "old".

Best,

Doyle

[x98boardwell]

Guys,

Thanks again for all the comments. I have a quick question.

When I am using the "wooden tool hammer method" as so brilliantly described on page #5 of the included thread above, it looks like the metal trim piece is missing. Does this have to come out to move the seal?

If so, how do I remove without damaging and then replace only in those corners where I need to adjust the seal outward?

Thanks,
Bryan

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

No no, the point is that you're tapping the wooden tool to reshape the metal trim strip, not the gasket. The trim strip drags the gasket along with it, not vice-versa. Haven't looked at the illustrated thread to which you're referring, but I can't imagine that the trim strip is not in place.

If you remove the trim strip from any point in the gasket with the windshield in situ, you'll probably have to remove the entire windshield to re-install it, unless you've very lucky...

Hi, Milt.

[jclotz]

I took a wooden stake purchased from a hardware store and shaped the tip to match the curvature of the metal strip corner. This gave me a thick end to hit with a hammer, and a thin end that would move the strip without distorting it. It only takes a tap or two to cover a feature like you show in your picture.

[x98boardwell]

Milt, thanks!!

Jclotz,

Did you hit the inside edge where the seal meets the window or did you hit the metal strip on the inside edge?

Thanks,