Windscreen seal/rubber alternative

[steveW]

Help!

Here in sunny South Africa it often rains and my window rubbers are history , thus the car fills up with water, but a new windscreen rubber is around $120!!.

Is it possible to use a universal windcreen rubber of sorts or even bond the glass in place.

Cheers

[Noel]

I am about to have my windscreen replaced by Safelite (In Ohio). They don't provide the rubber seal, so I got one from the Porsche Dealer for $69.

From what I've read, you want to use a Porsche seal and not an after market. THe difference in price was about $25 US dollars, so I went with the Porsche part.

Good Luck,

Noel

[Glasgow 911SC]

or even bond the glass in place

Now that would be good. Surely too modern for an aircooled 911 to have bonded glass though. Next it'll be a decent heater and wheel arch liners.

[bigchillcar]

Don't even think of using an aftermarket windshield seal...I've heard horror stories from glass shops with no interest in which one you bring to them say that the aftermarkets just don't do the job of the OEM. Theu may be close, but no cigar...
Ryan

[steveW]

Okay Wayne! what's your opinion. Do Pelican supply OEM or aftermarket seals.

My rear quarter, rear window and windscreen seals all need replacing, but seeing as though I'm going to put perspex quarters in, I'm not too worried about them (they are also expensive), but why is the rear window seal so much more expensive than the windscreen.

Today I parked my car in the sun with windows open to dry and went out for 1/2 an hour - it pissitively possed down while I was out and my car is wetter than it was before.

Cheers

[CamB]

Steve - how shot are the rubbers? You may be able to get away with some sealant (you should use the non-silicone stuff that the windscreen guys use, but I don't remember why!).

Otherwise you might have to pay up... at least it will be good for another 20 years afterwards.

[bigchillcar]

I've just ordered the windshield seals and a new headliner since the windows have to come out to replace it anyway. Here's the skinny: $250 labor quote to do the headliner, $250 to do both windshields...whew! Then the parts: I think I paid ~ $275-300 for the headliner and seals, so I'm looking at spending ~$800 to have this job done right...ugh. I'd try it myself, except in Wayne's book it's listed as 'more difficult' than an engine re-build...and I've never done one of those!
Ryan

[beamonk]

Have someone else do the headliner and windshield, it is a real pain especially the headliner

[steveW]

Cam B, they are baaad. Hard & brittle with splits at the corners coz they've been shrunk in the harsh UV light we have up here.

A friend of mine owns a glass fitments centre (Glass City - see Mike, I do punt you!) and he says there is nothing else but get new rubbers.

I want to have a look at bonding the glass when its all in bits, but at the moment my dahling 2.2T is the only car I've got and the rainy season is upon us so I need the rubbers before I take the glass out.

Cheers

[HawgRyder]

Steve:
The problem with the front windshield is the size of the glass.
We have no choice when using the original or replacement glass.
The glass is smaller than the opening in the body...therefore you need an "H" section style rubber to fit the window into.
If you purchase an aftermarket Lexan type window...they come in a larger size and can be "bonded" to the body.
In a manner like the new cars...a Butyl rubber seal is stuck to the body...then the glass/Lexan goes in...then a layer of liquid Butyl is applied and smoothed out to make an aerodynamic seal.
There are companies that now make an acceptable Lexan replacement that will withstand windshield wipers and dirt...also they are bullet-proof (or at least rock proof).
Bob

[Wayne 962]

We had too many returns on the crappy aftermarket seals, and now only carry the OEM German ones. We can special order the cheapo seals, but we sort-of have a no-returns policy on them. You indeed get what you pay for.

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

By the way, my price on this seal is $50:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911M/por_911M_weathr_main.htm

I can't imagine shipping to South Africa being more than $30-$40 tops...

-Wayne