The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Barn Door Glass

My glass guy says they make rear barn door glass rubber seal that is one-piece, much like a windshield rubber. He prefers it. I've never seen it, just the bulk roll type that leaves a gap where the ends meet. Anyone know where/who sells one-piece barn door glass?

Steele Rubber co.

I put a set on recently and it made a difference. I used low stick tape to keep inner contact areas from pinching or "rolling over" when closing the door.Then "released" the tape ends allowing the seal to return to its natural position.As stated elsewhere,leave it sit closed for several days.

I know Steele makes good stuff, but I had to gasp when I saw the price! Couldn't they sell any more money? I will keep on living with the gap at the end of my old, dry rubbers...

Thanks to Crazy Glue, no gaps here.

Nice! Did you glue the ends together?

Yes.

Well I attempted to rope in my rear barn door glass today; the rubber was exceedingly tight and tore within a couple of inches. I suspect cold weather may have contributed to the failure by making the rubber hard and inflexible. I ordered another set of seals (this is getting expensive) and will try it again with more lubrication and some pre-heating.

And thanks Mark, Krazy Glue bonds the ends together excellently!

My original rubbers from Classic were tough and tore when I installed them. When I repainted the doors, the next set I got from classic were soft and worked great.

I ordered the high-priced rear window seals from Steele - what a difference! Soft, supple and a perfect fit. I anticipate a much easier installation. Will post my results. But at these prices, you sure don't want to damage them!

Conclusion: I roped in my rear glass today. What before was impossible with the cheap, rigid, generic rubber seals, was easy with the quality units from Steele - even for a first-timer like me.

Looks good!!

It's amazing how quality products make a job so much easier. I used the one piece rubbers from Steele rubber as well.
Looks great !!

Thanks. Your Suburban is gorgeous.

Thanks, i hope to get my headliner in this winter/spring.
Keep the progress photos coming.

Tim

Steele is pricey but the quality is worth the money. if you think the gasket will be there for next 20+ years with no leaks it doesn't sting as much. Plus in the grand scheme of dollars to it costs to refurb a suburban its a small expense.

Mixed feelings. Yeah, they worked great but I still feel like I got taken.

By whom did you get taken?

About 10 feet of extruded rubber for $115 will give anyone pause to question the wisdom of their purchase, and perhaps the morality of the company that sold them.

I was just asking: by whom did you get taken by:
- the first vendor?
- the second vendor?
- both vendors?

I spoke some time ago by my personal visits to Steele and even ventured to ask them if they'd be interested in a Stovebolt discount for our members. Said NO. I also mentioned they do not "personally" make all their products, who really does? and therefore they are at the mercy of those who make it. My real expensive windshield gasket for my 37 was pitiful...... I actually put the "cheap" one on and it works great.
....i will stop here because as before, even speaking facts, I was hailed as "vendor bashing".

The take here is sometimes we win, sometimes we lose but for me and my money I have found I can do just as good elsewhere.
(price the wing vent rubber!) nooo way!

First reply edited. Pardon my sensitivity Tim; clearly I was still smarting from my frustration with the imbalance between function and price of such a seemingly simple item.

Now that you asked, I'd have to say "both vendors" - each offers products that are unsatisfactory, just in different respects.

I completely understand.
No offense taken.

That price is incredibly high.
But, the alternatives seem to be inadequate?

That makes us “captive buyers”?
As you posted, we do not have to like this.

Black RTV cured my eyesore.