Tight Door Seals

[TLH101]

So, how long does it normally take for new door seals to take a "set", so I don't have to slam the doors when closing. I just installed a new set from Joe Suchy.

 

[JimKueneman]

Forever. 18 months on the Dart and still tight.

 

[Ron H]

I had to give up on the new seals doing damage to my driver's door gear latch finding another one. Was impossibly oversize and never relished slamming car doors for any reason. The aftermarket **** I bought was ridiculous, so ended up putting my old seals back in hoping someday someone will make a seal that fits. So a reasonable question, looking at photo - these are supposed to fit huh?

 

[493 Mike]

Someone here said to put Vaseline on the rubber for a few days and then remove it. Evidently it softens the rubber and speeds up the process.
Mike

 

[fbs63]

Do the new seals have small holes in them like the originals? When the door is closed the air inside the seal has to escape.

 

[Ron H]

I allowed my seals to sit with doors closed for two weeks, like this would make a diff; not. The source I bought the seals from, a reputable one, told me there was only one place making them. He thought the black wind lace ones may be better and would send me those so if they worked I could dye those for my interior match. He never sent those. Anyway, those also need to be set beneath the door sills and tolerated setting them in without stripping out the screws...hoping for some 'set in'. Can't believe the place making these couldn't quickly determine they were WRONG. Ma Mopar had seals that fit 50+ years ago and re-pops can't be made? Hope this may have been remedied but haven't heard anything..

 

[retractable]

I installed a set on a 64 Belvedere wagon 3 years ago and the doors shut hard until I set it in the hot sun for an afternoon. After that the doors shut good, did not have to slam them. Then I installed a set on a 66 Valiant 2 door 4 years ago and the drivers door never shut without a hard slam. The passengers door shut very nice. I have installed door seals on a number of cars and have had problems with some and not others. I dont think the seals are not made consistent with the rubber compounds. My thoughts about what I have had to deal with. You can sometime bend the pinch weld some to make a better fit.