Rubber!!

[miles5]

Hi

Where is the best place to buy rubber seals (door, headlamp, bumper trim). I know there is good and bad stuff out there and want to be sure of the former.

Thanks

[ChrisC]

My vote is SNG I bought the entire car kit from them. The rubber appears to be fairly soft which is important for the door fitment - but to be fair I have yet to fit it...

There is a fair amount of release agent still on the rubber making some of it look a pale grey but apparently thats normal. I do however expect to have to trim down the door rubbers to get a decent door fit without slamming. We shall see...

Although I bought the entire kit - i would still be interested in other peoples views.

[daverawle]

I bought a complete kit from one of the usuals - I guess around 50% of it was usable from the off and the rest rotted in a couple of years. My recommendation is COH Bains - they don't do everything but what they do is good.

Dave

[PeterCrespin]

I bought a complete kit from one of the usuals - I guess around 50% of it was usable from the off and the rest rotted in a couple of years. My recommendation is COH Bains - they don't do everything but what they do is good.

COH Baines are the supplier used by Hutsons and their door seals are slim section like the original - I can't comment on any other of their stuff. I saw them on Angus's car and they looked so much slimmer and better than the stuff on mine that I asked him to get me a pair.

http://www.kellysearch.co.uk/c/coh-baines-ltd/26023950/

I originally used SNGB seals on the doors and they were the right shape but overall slightly too large in section, being a fatter foamy type rubber. This means they get squished by the doors if you have half-decent panel gaps and the distortion compromises the structure and sealing effectiveness, though there are probably people whose cars are fine with them.

In fairness to SNGB, I spoke to them about it at Stoneleigh in March I think it was (might have been last October) and gave them a short slice of theirs stuck to a sample card next to a short slice of Baines's seal. They were definitely going to look into it and consider changing supplier. No idea when/if that has taken effect yet.

As ever, hang on to all old parts like seals and throw nothing away until/unless you have a fully-functioning replacement installed. It's only when you see the chunky stuff next to the slimmer OEM/Baines section that you can tell it's not quite right.

I haven't yet fitted the Baines bits but will be using 3M EPDM type adhesive, assuming they are made of the same stuff as Barratts seal. For those I tried Evo Stik contact cement and normal trim adhesive. The PO had tried silicone by the look of it. None of those worked but the 3M stuff is so good I know it's going to be a swine of a job getting the old seals out :-(

Pete

[christopher storey]

This problem is perennial. LikePeter Crespin, I bought my seals for a FHC from Hutson's . The driver's side fitted beautifully with no problems, but the passenger side....???? I have had to shave them down, and still need red rubber grease to enable the door to open ! CMC use a dremel with an abrasive wheel to turn them down , and yet still have troubles

I really don't know what the answer is . I suspect that the truth is that the modern rubber is much harder than rubber of old which had a very limited life expectancy