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Outer window seals

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Old Jul 24, 2008 | 06:39 AM
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Default Outer window seals

Do the outer side window seals have the felt 'scraper' riveted to them?
My drivers side seal is scratching the snot out of the glass. If so, which is best ....OEM or aftermarket?
Mike
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Old Jul 24, 2008 | 07:55 AM
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Replace with OEM, I used aftermarket stuff and it isn't as good.
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Old Jul 24, 2008 | 08:12 AM
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I did mine a couple years back. Got OEM from Chris at Superior. No problems at all replacing them.

The only felt pads on my doors are mounted in the door, not part of the seal. I loosened mine to make the work on the seal a little easier. The pads help guide/secure the window going up and down I believe.
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Old Jul 24, 2008 | 11:40 AM
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I just replaced mine and used the aftermarket kit. Seems to be fine, and is sure an improvement over the rotted OEMs.
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Old Jul 24, 2008 | 12:26 PM
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I replaced mine in about an hour (to a little extra time to clean all of the electrical connections while I was at it, darn rear hatch switches now work !!! ).. got mine from Ecklers' No problem yet, but I am planning on replacing all of the window/door seals before winter comes.
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Old Jul 24, 2008 | 09:15 PM
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Are those 'pads' an OEM or aftermarket replacement part? Mine are riveted onto something or other, and the damned rivet let go and it swings down when I send the glass down. The 'pads' if I understand right, are NOT part of the outer window seal kit?
Mike
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Old Jul 25, 2008 | 11:52 AM
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The outer seals are riveted, but the rivets are nowhere near the glass, unless your sweeps are hanging off and bent in towards the window. Corvette Recycling has a thread in the parts section - NOS GM outer seals for $30 ea, free shipping. They also have NOS felts for $7 ea.

I used #14 sheet metal screws to install mine. You'll have a hard time finding large flange rivets to rivet them back in.
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Old Jul 25, 2008 | 02:16 PM
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Ecklers has the aftermarket ones with the rivets included
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Old Jul 25, 2008 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by miks139
Ecklers has the aftermarket ones with the rivets included
Why would you buy aftermarket when you can get original GMs for the same price?
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Old Jul 26, 2008 | 03:13 PM
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Originally Posted by C4boy
The outer seals are riveted, but the rivets are nowhere near the glass, unless your sweeps are hanging off and bent in towards the window. Corvette Recycling has a thread in the parts section - NOS GM outer seals for $30 ea, free shipping. They also have NOS felts for $7 ea.

I used #14 sheet metal screws to install mine. You'll have a hard time finding large flange rivets to rivet them back in.

So you don't have to use screws, thats why. Are the screws OEM?

Sometimes aftermarket can improve on OEM also.
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Old Jul 27, 2008 | 01:46 AM
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The aftermarket outer window felts are the ones everyone complains that the clips don't line up. Screws or rivets doesn't matter, they both work and you're never gonna see them.
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Old Jul 27, 2008 | 02:43 AM
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I got OEM from a forum member I think 65$ for both shipped !
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Old Jul 27, 2008 | 09:42 AM
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Originally Posted by C4boy
The outer seals are riveted, but the rivets are nowhere near the glass, unless your sweeps are hanging off and bent in towards the window. Corvette Recycling has a thread in the parts section - NOS GM outer seals for $30 ea, free shipping. They also have NOS felts for $7 ea.

I used #14 sheet metal screws to install mine. You'll have a hard time finding large flange rivets to rivet them back in.
NAPA has the rivets, that's where my buddy got his.

Originally Posted by miks139
Ecklers has the aftermarket ones with the rivets included
That's the kit I bought and it is crap.

Originally Posted by C4boy
Why would you buy aftermarket when you can get original GMs for the same price?


Originally Posted by miks139
So you don't have to use screws, thats why. Are the screws OEM?

Sometimes aftermarket can improve on OEM also.
screws are not OEM

Originally Posted by C4boy
The aftermarket outer window felts are the ones everyone complains that the clips don't line up. Screws or rivets doesn't matter, they both work and you're never gonna see them.
That's what happened to me. They look much better than the tore up originals but they are not perfect.

GM must have improved them over the years since my '95 with over 140,000 miles(bought with 57,000) and kept outside for many of the years I've had it are in perfect shape.
My '93 had 36,000 miles when I bought it and the outer seals were already shot.
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Old Jul 27, 2008 | 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr Mojo
NAPA has the rivets, that's where my buddy got his.

That's the kit I bought and it is crap.



screws are not OEM


That's what happened to me. They look much better than the tore up originals but they are not perfect.

GM must have improved them over the years since my '95 with over 140,000 miles(bought with 57,000) and kept outside for many of the years I've had it are in perfect shape.
My '93 had 36,000 miles when I bought it and the outer seals were already shot.
That's what I wonder about in buying the OEM's....especially any of the NOS mentioned above.

Which ones are you getting???? The good composition rubber of the 95 year? Or the poor composition rubber of the previous years?
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Old Apr 25, 2009 | 09:55 PM
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So, we all know the OEM will rot and crumble. Does the aftermarket do this, or does it stay pliable?

The PO put in aftermarket seals on mine 3-4 years ago, and they look good. I plan on removing them when I get it painted, but was thinking of swapping in OEM seals. ?? I may just reuse the old ones since they still look good. Though, I do have some scratches on the outside of the glass.
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Old Apr 25, 2009 | 10:35 PM
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Originally Posted by 78pacer
Do the outer side window seals have the felt 'scraper' riveted to them?
My drivers side seal is scratching the snot out of the glass. If so, which is best ....OEM or aftermarket?
Mike
Aftermarket crap in NEVER as good as OEM stuff.The rivets you need shouldnt be too hard to find,I did this years ago and didnt have a hard time finding the rivets.The most important part of this job,wrap a piece of tape around the drill bit,this will keep you from drilling a hole through the door.
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Old Apr 29, 2009 | 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Z51JEFF
Aftermarket crap in NEVER as good as OEM stuff.The rivets you need shouldnt be too hard to find,I did this years ago and didnt have a hard time finding the rivets.The most important part of this job,wrap a piece of tape around the drill bit,this will keep you from drilling a hole through the door.
If I got new OEM outside strips, how long till they start cracking? The PO put in aftermarket ones 4-5 years ago, and they look good and are still flexible.
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Old Apr 29, 2009 | 05:56 PM
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I put aftermarkets on my car. Not sure of the manufacturer, but it was a package deal on Ebay with inner/outer door seals for around $100. The fit was good and the install was easy. I can't comment on the durability, but I can't imagine it'll be any worse than the crappy GM ones, which on my car were falling apart at about the 8 year mark
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 10:48 AM
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I used aftermarket on my previous "89" Vette and OEM on my "91" Vette and the oem fit better.

I also, didn't rivet the OEM outer window seals on, since the fit was very tight. Still good two years later.

Last edited by GKK; Apr 30, 2009 at 10:50 AM.
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 11:09 AM
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I riveted mine I dont like using screws on thin plastic
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