This is not directed at anyone, it's directed at the subject. There is a HUGE reason rubber is different. Not many complaints about fit because that's been debugged like Jim did it. But You can't cost effectively inspect the compound. You would have to cut a sample of each run of rubber IF they maintain batch records, which they don't. You would have to chemically analyze the compound. You would have to test it's strength, give it a 10 year accelerated heat, rain, freeze, UV and bending cycle tests or you could ask for batch certification. Which means they would do the testing and certify and track, with special markings on each piece. But they won't do that and you can't make them do that unless you pay 10X more for it which puts it higher than Steele. Everyone seems to think our vendors are Aerospace suppliers or Mil Spec suppliers. They are just old truck parts suppliers doing what Chevy does when you buy a new truck, give you a "guarantee". I know that is not always good because after you install and it fails in a year, you don't bother to remove rubber and so forth. and Chevy has to be on their toes so you won't buy a Ford or MoPar next time. Our vendors get customers from each other. When you get a bad rubber, you go to the other guy, but the other guy just lost a customer for the same reason, who went where you just came from. Same rubber, different day. Live with it.
I just got a backup Angle grinder while my Ridgid is being repaired. It's Chinese. It spins OK. Used the grinding wheel that came with it. The wheel will not grind. The metal grinds
it!This is another case of: The wheel fits good, looks good, is safe... but the compound/material is NO GOOD. Do you think Harbor Freight is going to call China and discuss grinding wheel material and spec it and ask for certification? Hell no. Do you think they will say fix it or we will start buying American? NO! It's crap. It's made from something the Chinese think is OK. I thru it away and moved on to my better wheel. Our Vendors and Harbor Freight and many businesses, eat the bad parts, give a refund or fix it and live on the 90% satisfied customers. Many other companies are able to control their vendors. Like GM, Boeing, NASA, U.S. Military.......
The weatherstrip/rubber parts are unique. They not only have "Form, Fit and Function" attributes, they have a perishable, consumable material "requirement".
This whole discussion has already been solved. No need to write letters or start a business. Just avoid the rubber at our vendors and buy Steele where feasible. The Chinese will continue to make a purse out of a sows ear. So live with it. Our vendors are just as good as any other store for any other thing in any other City.
Maybe we are about to see American companies start up again. Maybe we will see things being made here again. That would sure be nice but it will be very hard to do.
I would like to know who the heck makes what little rubber is used in a New Chevy Truck? Mexico? China? USA? Steele has accumulated all the rubber we use and has reverse engineered/3D scanned parts to make tooling. Many of those parts, suggestions and samples have come from Stovebolt members. China had to do the same. HUGE undertaking for a limited quantity. It is possible that Steele and/or China found/purchased old GM drawings. If a U.S. company could buy the drawings or CAD files, they could make our rubber great again.
