The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Back to the Barn Doors

With this new thread I'm asking about the placement of the rubber door seals. Been too many years since I tore down the car. Don't have any AD trucks around to look at. Am I anywhere near right about the placement of these seals? Which one is correct, or neither one?


Thanks, Richard

Here’s how I installed mine.

Sir, Mine were gone. Intuitively though, think about how these suburban carryall doors shut. What I mean is that the driver's door goes shut first & then the passenger door sorta helps seal the entrance up. Having that knowledge, I would put more rubber facing out on the passenger door than I would on the driver side door. Don't take my logically reasoned approach though without checking with seal experts that make rubber seals. That would be Steele Rubber, Denver, NC. Hope this helps. Thanks Richard. V/r, Nick

Sir, A Steele Rubber Products Catalog, which is 3 yrs old. I plan to: 1)buy my rubber products from them; 2) install them; & 3) become an expert. Thanks Richard. V/r, Nick

I don’t think either one of your samples is correct. I mounted my door seals with the thickest part against the the door and the thinest and shorter lip contacted the body, so it would compress easily.

Here is mine.

Here’s a pro tip from Tim L.

Don’t make the same mistake I did. On the left barn door, extent the weatherstripping past the door edge on top to allow it to bridge the gap between the doors to help create a waterproof seal. I didn’t do that on mine and it lets water in.

Another very stupid mistake I made - after many years of opening/shutting my 1954 Chevrolet Suburban's rear door:

Without thinking about what I was doing, I shut the right door first and then I shut the left door (and then I used words that I cannot post here).

This incorrect/unnatural "rear doors closing procedure" took a substantial chip of paint out of the right door.

The way I posted in my picture was how it came from the factory. Shorter leg near the door, longer leg away. I might have a picture somewhere.

Something else to know about Steele. They make a thicker seal that they say will work better on the rear doors. They usually don't list it in your custom catalog, but they list it in the main catalog.

Sir, Very good to know, regarding purchasing rear door seal material from Steele Rubber, Denver, North Carolina. That is, order from the main catalog & specify it is for the rear doors for a 1952 Chevrolet Suburban Carryall. Thanks Mark, V/r, Nick

Okay, now I'm totally confused. I will go to Steele and check out their thicker seal for the rear doors. That makes sense to me seeing that there is quite a gap there. Will revisit this thread when I have a clearer idea.

Thanks again all.

I don't have the time right now, but a search of this forum will find the discussion on the thicker rubber.

Okay, I found a minute. From previous forum discussions, some say that this is the correct rubber.

Steele Barn Door Seal

When I did my doors, I used the same rubber as the side doors. My rear doors leak. I wasn't too concerned because I have already painted the interior and the rubber is going to get replaced when I paint the exterior. The rubber listed above is what I'm going to buy to reseal my doors after I finish the paint. All this info comes from Tim (tclederman.)

Thanks Mark
Steel created a catalog specific to the 52 GMC Suburban for me. It has that same seal listed. Not cheap though!! They also had the whisker strip for the glass pull bars. It fits real nice. Also not cheap.

Richard

Sir, So you did buy your rubber components from Steele & are quite satisfied. Correct? Please advise. Thanks Richard. V/r, Nick

There is no supplier with better quality or better selection than Steele Rubber.

If that statement is incorrect, please post a link to that valuable competitor.

I bought the side sliding glass wiper/whisker from Steele. The solid square rubber spacer and run channel and u-channel rubber around the fixed glass from Jim Carter. Had purchased them before looking into Steele. I may go with the cargo door seals from them tho.

Richard