Door Window Seals

[zaria123]

Im sure I read somewhere a post on how to fit the original door window seals or weather strips, the ones which run along the top of the outside of the door, between the door and the glass. I think it also included removing the door trim isde too?

Ive searched it, but can't find it, so not sure Im calling them the right thing. I have a new one from Lotus, so hope to fit it tonight.

Any help would be great.

Cheers
Alan

[martin_bailey_1]

Hi Alan,

If it's any help, there's an article in the WikiLEC area, that deals with replacement of 'door glass weatherstrips' (which is what I think you're referring to)

http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Door_ ... therstrips

Cheers,

Martin

[zaria123]

Cheers

Thats exactly what I was looking for, seems I was just looking in the wrong place!

Thanks for that
Alan

[zaria123]

Thought I was getting off lucky, as the orange clip came out of the door lock button ok, the butterfly came off the glass ok, then it was all downhill

All but two of the screws holding the strip on were rusted so bad the screw driver had nothing to catch hold off, so I had to cut them off.

Now needing about 6 new screws before I can finish the job

Think I'll go back and fit the front wheel cylinders to my Bond Bug

[Steve A]

I've done this with the kit from Gordon, the key is to get the right glue

[zaria123]

Scews are still required doing it Gordons way too though?

[Steve A]

The screws are to fix the seal to the door as the original, the glue is used to fix the plastic tabs to the new seal.

[zaria123]

Ah, I'm using an original Lotus seal, I thought I was going to get away with sticking it on there!

[Sy V]

If you need the recommended screwdriver, give me a shout and I'll send you mine over.

[zaria123]

Cheers, I got a perfect fitting screw driver, but the heads of the screws had partly disintigrated, so nothing for the screw drive to catch on.

Ive cut them off with the hack saw blade, so now need new screws from somewhere

[techlectic]

I badly need new seals too. Dave Bean here in the US wants your first-born for them. SJS has a better price, but someone recommended getting directly from Lotus as the ones from SJS may be old stock. Can anyone else comment on that? And may I ask how expensive they are from Lotus?

Can't help with the screws, but can't you match up with one good one at a hardware store? I have the screwdriver and was careful not to drop the screw, but I didn't know there was a washer also. oops.

[zaria123]

I ordered the proper new screws from Bell & Colville today, 52p each + VAT, I got some extra just in case! These screws had a built in washer not a separate one though. And a magnetic screw driver is a good idea!

Also I got my weather strip from SJSportscars, is that where you mean?

It had to be ordered in from Lotus for me, the original part, and was brand new, although it was some silly price like £73!

But its the perfect fit, etc.

Still a very time consuming and fiddly job though.....

[romboot]

Hi
Has anyone found a way of removing the door glass weatherstrip without removing the window?

[techlectic]

Thanks for the info Zaria - I guess I will order from SJS as well. Their price for the seals is good compared to Dave Bean over here, but the shipping cost is REALLY ridiculous.

I started trying to remove the seal without taking apart the door and removing the glass using the special screwdriver from www.rodneydickman.com/. I think it's doable, but a couple of the screws are going to be a little tricky, and I have the advantage of not even a hint of rust.

[romboot]

Thanks techlectic, I have checked out the link, think I can knock up something similiar and give it a go.

[zaria123]

I have managed to do the job without removing the glass!

I had to remove the butterfly which attches through a hole in the glass, loosen the main centre bar which attaches the window to the butterfly, loosen the bottom bolts on the two window runners to allow more space for the glass to drop down in to the bottom of the door. If you don't loosen the runners, and the main centre bar there isn't enough room for the glass to pass between the door and the runners to drop far enough down to the bottom of the door.

The biggest problem encountered was the corrosion in the screws holding the seal on (well the three centre ones).

Ref the postage. I happened to be on holiday in Devon which is why I chose them to supply it, otherwise the postage (because of the odd shape) would have been £16.00 and thats in the UK! I just hoped they'd let me on the plane home with it.....in case they thought it could have been used as a weapon

Screws are now on order from Bell & Colville, special order from Lotus, arriving with me late next week.....£7.20 all in inc postage for 10.

there are also a row of pre-drilled holes in the inner door moulding, directly in line with each screw - why do you need a specail tool? Is this to do the job without taking the inner trim panel off?

Hope this helps?

[romboot]

The tool looks thin enough that I don't have to loosen the window, but if the screws are rusted in I will try your trick.
I have done the n/s door seal because the slider bloke so I took it all apart, the screws were rusted in but luckily for me I work for an engineering company and was able to obtain new screws as samples from our bolt and bolt supplier. (Sorry, not trying to rub it in).
I did not get a reply from the chap selling the alternative seal but Bell & Colvill got me an original within a couple of days and it looks more robust than the original.
If the screws do not arrive, give me a call and I'll see what i can do for you.

[dapinky]

If anyone needs them, I've got a set of the screws on the bench from my door swap which is now completed - yours for the price of a stamp!

Also, the easiest way i found (and quickest in the long run), is to remove the inner door strip (a few self tappers, and then drill out the pop rivets), then you can get a normal screwdriver through the holes in the door casing and excert proper leverage/pressure on the screws - it only takes 5 minutes to re-rivet the inner strip on, with a smear of silicone sealant, and put the screws back in.