A pillar weatherstrip problem
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
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From: South Dakota
A pillar weatherstrip problem
I had a windshield replaced on my 94 and they installed a new weatherstrip as well. Now there is a massive wind noise (and I suspect water leak).
When I look at the new weatherstrip where it meets the front edge of the door glass I see the weatherstrip contacts the window along the bottom 3 or 4 inches and along the top 3 or 4 inches. The entire length between these has a gap between the weatherstrip and the glass. The weatherstrip seems to have more support or thicker at the top and bottom but less material in the center section.
The installer says that it a GM part, but when I compare it to my other C4 (an 85) that I know is original, the 85 is uniform along the whole length of the A pillar. So I don't believe it is a GM part.
Has anyone seen this type of issue with a weatherstrip before? Or know what brand weatherstrip this might be?
Or am I just missing something that it can be easily fixed?
When I look at the new weatherstrip where it meets the front edge of the door glass I see the weatherstrip contacts the window along the bottom 3 or 4 inches and along the top 3 or 4 inches. The entire length between these has a gap between the weatherstrip and the glass. The weatherstrip seems to have more support or thicker at the top and bottom but less material in the center section.
The installer says that it a GM part, but when I compare it to my other C4 (an 85) that I know is original, the 85 is uniform along the whole length of the A pillar. So I don't believe it is a GM part.
Has anyone seen this type of issue with a weatherstrip before? Or know what brand weatherstrip this might be?
Or am I just missing something that it can be easily fixed?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: El Paso Texas
They probably used a cheap aftermarket weatherstrip. You don't want gaps anywhere, but if you have them on the door glass, check along the top too. If water gets trapped in there, your windshield frame will rust. Not good.
A GM part should fit better than that. Either way, I'd make the glass installer do it again. That isn't right. I bought my A-pillar from Willcox and it fits great.
A GM part should fit better than that. Either way, I'd make the glass installer do it again. That isn't right. I bought my A-pillar from Willcox and it fits great.
Team Owner
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They probably used a cheap aftermarket weatherstrip. You don't want gaps anywhere, but if you have them on the door glass, check along the top too. If water gets trapped in there, your windshield frame will rust. Not good.
A GM part should fit better than that. Either way, I'd make the glass installer do it again. That isn't right. I bought my A-pillar from Willcox and it fits great.
A GM part should fit better than that. Either way, I'd make the glass installer do it again. That isn't right. I bought my A-pillar from Willcox and it fits great.
I bet it is an universal one and filled the gaps with adhesive. Can you post pictures of it?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: El Paso Texas
I believe you can, but you shouldn't have to. I had a massive air leak on both my A & B pillars. I replaced both with Willcox product, problem solved.
I take it from the original post that there wasn't any air leak before the windshield was replaced, correct?
I take it from the original post that there wasn't any air leak before the windshield was replaced, correct?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
Thanks for the input.
I can not adjust it out. The glass is making contact at the top and bottom of the front edge. There is no way to adjust it. I would need to reshape the glass to have more glass in the middle.
I think it is just a bad weatherstrip. I am meeting with the installer later today.
I can not adjust it out. The glass is making contact at the top and bottom of the front edge. There is no way to adjust it. I would need to reshape the glass to have more glass in the middle.
I think it is just a bad weatherstrip. I am meeting with the installer later today.
Team Owner
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Thanks for the input.
I can not adjust it out. The glass is making contact at the top and bottom of the front edge. There is no way to adjust it. I would need to reshape the glass to have more glass in the middle.
I think it is just a bad weatherstrip. I am meeting with the installer later today.
I can not adjust it out. The glass is making contact at the top and bottom of the front edge. There is no way to adjust it. I would need to reshape the glass to have more glass in the middle.
I think it is just a bad weatherstrip. I am meeting with the installer later today.
I would take it back and have them fix the problem.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
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From: South Dakota
The picture below shows the problem. If you look along the front edge of the glass you can see a gap. Just above the mirror you can see where the glass is contacting the weatherstrip and moving up from there is a gap until a couple inches from the top there is contact again.
The weatherstrip has a lot more material where the glass contacts it and has much less material where you can see the gap.
The weatherstrip has a lot more material where the glass contacts it and has much less material where you can see the gap.
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Team Owner
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A-Ha
The weatherstrip is not installed correctly. I can see it is not in all the way.
Is the water entering from the weatherstrip or a gap between the windshield and the A-Frame?
The weatherstrip is not installed correctly. I can see it is not in all the way.
Is the water entering from the weatherstrip or a gap between the windshield and the A-Frame?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: South Dakota
What can you see that is not installed correctly? To me it appears that the weatherstrip is seated correctly and it is inserted into the groove the entire way.
I think the weatherstrip is made wrong. It is physically thicker where the glass contacts it at the front edge of the glass, and thinner where there is a gap.
The wind and water come between the front edge of the door glass and the weatherstrip.
I also just met with the installer and he also sees the weatherstrip as bad. I am trying to find out what brand of weatherstrip it is. So far it looks like the part # WIF D951 might be a Precision brand.
I am also trying to find a good weatherstip. So far my searches seem to point to Willcox as being pretty good. Any comments or suggestions?
I think the weatherstrip is made wrong. It is physically thicker where the glass contacts it at the front edge of the glass, and thinner where there is a gap.
The wind and water come between the front edge of the door glass and the weatherstrip.
I also just met with the installer and he also sees the weatherstrip as bad. I am trying to find out what brand of weatherstrip it is. So far it looks like the part # WIF D951 might be a Precision brand.
I am also trying to find a good weatherstip. So far my searches seem to point to Willcox as being pretty good. Any comments or suggestions?
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
What can you see that is not installed correctly? To me it appears that the weatherstrip is seated correctly and it is inserted into the groove the entire way.
I think the weatherstrip is made wrong. It is physically thicker where the glass contacts it at the front edge of the glass, and thinner where there is a gap.
The wind and water come between the front edge of the door glass and the weatherstrip.
I also just met with the installer and he also sees the weatherstrip as bad. I am trying to find out what brand of weatherstrip it is. So far it looks like the part # WIF D951 might be a Precision brand.
I am also trying to find a good weatherstip. So far my searches seem to point to Willcox as being pretty good. Any comments or suggestions?
I think the weatherstrip is made wrong. It is physically thicker where the glass contacts it at the front edge of the glass, and thinner where there is a gap.
The wind and water come between the front edge of the door glass and the weatherstrip.
I also just met with the installer and he also sees the weatherstrip as bad. I am trying to find out what brand of weatherstrip it is. So far it looks like the part # WIF D951 might be a Precision brand.
I am also trying to find a good weatherstip. So far my searches seem to point to Willcox as being pretty good. Any comments or suggestions?
Not a hard job, and the weatherstrip sealed perfectly to the door window glass perfectly. Now one thing the shop said that can affect the fit is the door window glass adjustment. If the door glass is out of adjustment, the door window pads worn out or the door hinge pin bushings are worn out..... you will have issues with the fit of the A pillar weatherstrip.
Willcox Inc.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
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From: South Dakota
I got a Willcox weatherstrip.
It is much more uniform in the amount of material and maybe a little softer than the bad one.
After installation it fits and the window meets it all the way along the edge. There is no wind noise from it. (I haven't been out in the rain yet)
A much better weatherstrip than the first one and it was under half the price too.
It is much more uniform in the amount of material and maybe a little softer than the bad one.
After installation it fits and the window meets it all the way along the edge. There is no wind noise from it. (I haven't been out in the rain yet)
A much better weatherstrip than the first one and it was under half the price too.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I got a Willcox weatherstrip.
It is much more uniform in the amount of material and maybe a little softer than the bad one.
After installation it fits and the window meets it all the way along the edge. There is no wind noise from it. (I haven't been out in the rain yet)
A much better weatherstrip than the first one and it was under half the price too.
It is much more uniform in the amount of material and maybe a little softer than the bad one.
After installation it fits and the window meets it all the way along the edge. There is no wind noise from it. (I haven't been out in the rain yet)
A much better weatherstrip than the first one and it was under half the price too.
Race Director
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From: Overland Park Kansas
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
I got a Willcox weatherstrip.
It is much more uniform in the amount of material and maybe a little softer than the bad one.
After installation it fits and the window meets it all the way along the edge. There is no wind noise from it. (I haven't been out in the rain yet)
A much better weatherstrip than the first one and it was under half the price too.
It is much more uniform in the amount of material and maybe a little softer than the bad one.
After installation it fits and the window meets it all the way along the edge. There is no wind noise from it. (I haven't been out in the rain yet)
A much better weatherstrip than the first one and it was under half the price too.
Yes there is. It's called markup.
