The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Need feedback on Classic Parts windshield rubber and SS trim!!

I posted this on the paint and body forum, but got minimal results. Has anyone bought/installed the windshield rubber seal from Classic Parts? I'm about to send mine back, with the stainless trim, due to a bad report I got from Carl52 on his leaking after install. I just got the trim a week or so ago, and it looks way too short on the top, but the Classic Parts phone rep says they work well, no complaints ever. I'm not willing to take a chance, especially at this time of year when the cold rains are upon us. I'd just like to hear from some of you guys who have used this seal, and also the stainless trim for the deluxe seal. Does the rubber fit and seal well?? Did your stainless trim look unevenly cut before you put it in?? Help!! I'm ready to ship it back today if I don't get any good reports! Thanks for any advice or comments on this! Lee

Lee, if one leaks I'd think it simply was not sealed very good and like the book calls for. I do have one from Classic in my panel and it fits good but I just can't seem to get the passenger side lower corner to lay down flat. Couple years ago when I put mine in I remember some folks having the same problem with the corner lip. Mine does not leak and I choose it simply for the fact I can't justify Steele's prices on some stuff....I'm not far from their place and have been there on a couple occasions and........ I do buy some stuff from them.
Also, as I'm sure everyone will tell you, put the glass in the rubber gasket and let it sit, or "form" itself to the glass.
The Stainless trim definitely goes in before installing the windshield/gasket. ITs a little filmsy but TAKE YOUR TIME and it will fit down in the rubber. Use something to help lubricate things as you work with it.

Its your choice and I'm sure others will chip in with their two bits.

Thanks, Brad. At least I know it's not just me and my rosy personality. (Actually, I always try to be business-like and factual, and sincerely hope that the company will do the same.) The guy (whose name was Brad ). I talked to about the setting tape not only told me I was wrong, even though I gave him the Chevy Manual page, [Cab And Body page 1-11, sect. (1951 models), #8. "Using new glass channel filler, cut the tape to be installed two inches longer than the lower edge of the door glass." and even read it to him. He was trying hard to over ride me by trying to shout me down. Even in my genteel mode, I'm still a seasoned construction tradesmen (Ironworker) underneath, so I let him know that I could shout louder, if necessary. He said he'd never heard that before. I told him if they're going to sell the manual's and factory books, they should know them if they're going to sell parts that men order out of them. He finally told me that when I reordered, they'd give me a roll for free, and I was happy to see that they cut this one (he told me they cut the stuff on location) to the required 4" longer (2" per door). But the guy was really an [censored], no matter what I said, which is pretty unprofessional, especially when there are other places to get this stuff. I've liked most of the parts I've gotten, and the dealings with this company I've had. But when someone sitting in a cubicle starts telling someone who's bustin' knuckles and has the proof right in front of them that that person is wrong and, also, wants them to believe that "We've never had any complaints before!" (corporate BS trick I learned way back in college), they're walking the thin line of not only losing that customer, but ruining the company's image of being 'knowledgeable'. Anyway, I figure I'll wait till this evening to see if I get any more replies of sub-quality windshield parts before I send them back. If they really DO have tons of satisfied customers with these parts, it shouldn't take long for them to start saying so on this post.

Thanks, Alvin. That's pretty much what Carl told me about his lower corner, but he said his leaked. I know it's not a 'hard' job, comparatively, to a lot of things, but if it messes up, I'm without a truck to drive and will have a neighborhood eyesore, since my truck sits on the street in front of my house, with it's windshield covered with plastic till I get acceptable parts in. Not to mention, I'll have to drive my dually with expired plates, also. Don't know where Brad's comment went, but I'll leave my response to it, just because. Lee

I have an opinion about the few rubber complaints. It's not the fault of the vendor. The vendor usually has only one Chinese factory to buy various parts from. Rubber from off shore can change size because of several issues like the ever changing recycled (garbage) they make it from, which causes various shrinkage rates after molding.
Also the user not taking special care (because of the bad "rubber") and taping it up around glass, in the sun, for a week or two, to train it. Even then it may not fit correctly. This will always be an issue with off shore rubber. Some "rubber" turns out dimensionally stable and some does not. Different vendors won't help except rubber from Steele. If Steele does not carry the rubber, you have to take what you get. Maybe you can buy three to see if you can find one to fit and send the others back (maybe). It's not the vendor and they don't get many complaints and some users do lie about why they are returning. A vendor sells 100's with a low complaint ratio= no action. This is what we would all do if we owned a company. Give the money back within a reasonable time. The supplier would never change the mold because they sell to many vendors. Aftermarket vendor companies can not go elsewhere or control the supplier.

There is no comparison of Steele's quality to the rest of them.
http://www.steelerubber.com/

They are just like what we bought from GM dealers 50 years ago.

Friends, if you think Steele makes all the rubber products they sell your dead wrong. I'm sure they try to make sure the "producers" of some of their products use quality stuff but......... I won't go into detail but I got it straight from the horse's mouth about one year ago. Companies have to make a nice profit guys but..... well I've said enough. I've been accused of Vendor Bashing some time ago but hey, facts are facts. If the grease gets to hot, get out of the kitchen.

... I must admit they once hooked me up with some Free window trim so they can't be all bad! Oh, I also approached them, probably 4-5 years ago, about maybe a Stovebolt Discount but I'll let you imagine how that went over.

Do you have the new rubber seal? You can put your SS trim in it on the bench to see if it is made wrong. Take a picture and send it all back.
Carl

Good points, Bartamos. I agree. Thanks to you other guys, too. I am buying from Steele, over priced or not. 52Carl- Already tried that, and both the rubber and trim are back in the box ready to be shipped to CP. I told them a credit would be fine, since I will be buying other parts from them. Alvin, thanks for the honest opinion. I don't care if somebody hassled you about 'vendor bashing' or not, that's exactly what I was asking for. If vendors don't want to get bashed, they should sell stuff that is worth owning and also train their employees in better customer service, i.e., not trying to tell grown men who know what they're talking about that they're akin to stupid, and that anyone else besides themselves is wrong. "The customer is always right" has always seemed a bit much for me, but I DO believe if you want repeat business, you'd better not treat them like they're your ex-old lady.

There is no secret about Steele Rubbers parts. They say right on their website that some parts are outsourced. They make %90 of their products right in Denver N.C., U.S.A. Their products have a lifetime guarantee. Guaranteed to fit, guaranteed not to separate at seams or other defects. Their return policy is stated on the website. I would advise everyone to at least buy the windshield rubber from them. It's one of the only seals on our trucks that have to fit exactly. Other seals can be massaged and/or do not require such a perfect fit. Steele also has a quality promise page on their website. I have never had to test their return policy because the parts fit perfectly. I have realized that after all the work you do and a nice paint job, it's very important not to have to install and re install and fight rubber and scratch paint and not be satisfied with the final fit and so on....
I have a 1960 GMC 4X4 with a rare V6 Big Block 305. It has a fairly rare, unobtainable rubber motor mount with a metal plate with studs sticking out. Steele Rubber Co. will re-vulcanize this mount for me if I send the old part to them. Can't beat that.

Bill, Red58, has contributed many hours and parts to Steele for them to copy over the years... and possibly to other vendors as well.

Here is the email I received today.

Hi,

I would be happy to answer your questions. For starters we make our parts about 100 yards from my desk here in Denver North Carolina. Also we designed our parts from originals so they fit correctly and we offer a 100 % satisfaction guarantee. So for example if you have the part sitting in your garage for 10 years before you get to put the part on the car and you decide you don’t need it any more we will take it back or exchange it for something else, also if you have the part on the car for say 5 years and a corner separates we will replace the item for you. I do want to let you know while we make 90% of our parts we sell, there are a few parts we outsource from a few vendors, but those parts go through all the same testing our parts go through and we hold them to the same standards.

If you need my assistance, do not hesitate to contact me directly at [email protected] or by phone at (800) 544-8665 x 212.


Thank you,
Erica Watts
Product Specialist
Steele Rubber Products
(800) 544-8665 x 212
[email protected]

That's the kind of people I like to deal with!

Me too.

I've been getting some bad parts (fit, etc.) lately, and I'm wondering if the members here would share any parts they've gotten (particularly for the AD's) that weren't up to snuff, and where they came from? I just sent back some stuff to Classic Parts that weren't right, by my opinion, and had to pay for the shipping because I hadn't tried putting them in. One was trim that obviously wasn't cut right from the 'factory' in Taiwan, the other the windshield rubber. For the second time in a few months, I talked to CP on the phone and got the "we've sold XXXX of these parts and never had a problem. We put them in here and they work". Well, I'm not going to attempt to install something I know isn't right, or if I install it and it's wrong, I'll be sitting with a useless truck for the week(s) it takes to get the right part, not to mention the griping from the supplier about parts scratched or bent or sealer smudges after attempting to make the bad part work. I'm not trying to start a supplier slamming thread, but I AM trying to not get stuck paying return shipping for parts that should have never made it past QC. So, if there's anyone who had been sent obviously sub-par parts or material, I'd like to see what NOT to buy from any given parts house. Thanks! Lee Butcher

I've gotten bad carpet sets from LMC.

A lot of aftermarket parts are made by only 1 or two companys, then rebranded so you basically pay your money and take your
chances.

Lee,

If it is any consolation, you are not alone. There are a bunch of junk parts being sold and so far I haven't seen any of the parts houses step up to the plate to make things right. Looks like we the consuming "sheep" have been sold a bill of goods with this Chinese crap and it has become the accepted new normal. Sorry to hear you are having the same problem.

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