After a fresh coat of paint, there’s nothing more frustrating than dealing with new rubber seals: even the ones we make with perfectly correct profiles can be a pain to install. Here are some tips to help things go smoothly.
- Make sure the parts you are installing are correct. Match them up against known good originals to make sure there are no issues with length or thickness. Sometimes there are variations in window seals based upon where a car like the 356 was built: a Karmann car may have a different seal than a Reutter car.
- Clean your metal trim before you slide it into fresh rubber. It’s the perfect time to tidy things up before you assemble your seals.
- Warm the rubber. Rubber seals are most pliable when they’re nice and warm. At the very least, bring them inside. If it’s warm outside, set them in the sun for a while, or dunk them in warm / hot water to speed up the process.
- Use a trim tool like our bone to push seals into their tracks. Don’t use screwdrivers or other metal implements, as they can slip and mar your paint or trim.
- Use a lubricant to reduce friction between the rubber and the trim. We like to use window cleaner (like Windex), as it makes the seals slippery for a short period of time so that you can slide the pieces together, and then it “locks” down tight so you can move to the next section. Oily or silicone lubricants will stay greasy too long, allowing the seals to back out of their proper channels.
- Be patient and take breaks. Installing rubber seals can be very tiring for your thumbs and fingers.
- Pre-fit the seal on the parts (like windows) as soon as you can and let them sit. This will allow the rubber to take a set, and it will be easier to install in the car.
