Hatch upper gasket replacement

[mikepellegrini]

Anyone ever replaced the upper gasket on the rear hatch? I just replaced the lower gasket and still had leaks coming over the top of that gasket (by the driver's side spoiler drain), so I bought a new upper one from Pelican.

There are screws on either side, then from one side to the other, the gasket is just stuffed into a small (maybe 1/16" wide) crack.

It looks like if I take the trim piece holding the spoiler off, I may be able to put the gasket in, then put the spoiler back on. Anyone ever done this?

The only other option I see is using a small screwdriver to stuff the gasket into the crack. But I'm afraid I may damage it that way.

[mikepellegrini]

As it turns out, that is the only way to do it.

Getting the spoiler off was easy - I drilled the screws out. 5 minutes.

Underneath, it was super icky and at the point it was leaking most (near the drivers side lock) the adhesive for the glass had separated from the frame - there was a pretty good crack - has to be where the leak was coming from.

I cleaned up the trim piece and re-painted it (took it down to bare metal in places). Tomorrow I'll seal it with silicone and put the new gasket on. It'll be like new.

[pfarah]

If I may suggest that it would be a great time to remove all three rear spoiler (tail) pieces and give that area underneath a thorough cleaning. I took an old screwdriver and ground the tip in order to remove those funky nuts along the hatch. The specialty bits one can purchase at tool stores don't quite have the correct spacing.

[mikepellegrini]

Cool tool. I may do that.

[ERAU944]

I have a screwdriver in my tool box that looks just like that... one of many special tools I've made over the years.