Window Seals Crackin

blackstrat5

New member
The rubber around my windows is starting to dry rot. Does anybody have any suggestions on anything I can do to stop the rot?
 
djerickd said:
not true. attempt the 000 steel wool, what have you got to lose, it looks like crap anyway, right?!



How will 000 steel wool take out cracking in rubber without destroying it?
 
I've done it with great sucess on a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon with NASTY looking oxidation.. now it looks new again. it's a common problem on the late model hyundai's and here's a write up I did on newtiburon.com:



NewTiburon.com Forums - View Single Post - window trim



complete thread:

window trim - NewTiburon.com Forums



actually someone there first posted about using a "brillo" pad with much sucess, I didn't have one but did have the steelwool and it worked great as well
 
David Fermani said:
How will 000 steel wool take out cracking in rubber without destroying it?



I forgot to mention to use water or lubricant so you are in effect wetsanding the rubber trim... it has to be RUBBER tho! Afterwards dry it off and apply your favotire protectant :goodjob
 
I see your point/advice in respect to oxidized/faded/corroded/dirty moldings, but if they are like the thread title says (cracking), I can't see how it can be repaired. You can't bond up and/or fill the cracks in a soft rubber molding with steel wool or even with a protectant. Just like cracked/dry rotted tires, they can't be fixed. Are you suggesting that sanding down (removing the top layer) will fix the problem? If a piece of rubber trim (belt molding/windown seal/roof molding) has started to crack, that means it's lost it's inpregnated protective oils and will eventually keep cracking. Even if it's soaked in protectant. If so, I'd have to see the before and afters to see what it looks like.
 
I can get an after pic... :)

but it worked WONDERS for my dry rotted trim on my 03 tib... the OP drives an 06 volvo so it can't be that bad.



edit: it looked fine even without protectant when I did my car.
 
Sorry about the confusion guys, I guess your right, it's more oxidation than actual cracking. Little spots of oxidation which I'm assuming are getting bigger with time. I can get some pictures later today if that helps more. So no cracks, at least not yet. The seals just look oxidized with spots, and I was just wondering if there was something I could apply to stop the oxidation and keep the seals from eventually dry rotting which I guess that's what this oxidation will lead to.
 
Any other protectants that will help Window Seals? Seems to be one of the few areas of a car that you can't remedy. Dressings don't absord etc.
 
SilvaBimma said:
Any other protectants that will help Window Seals? Seems to be one of the few areas of a car that you can't remedy. Dressings don't absord etc.



have you tried VM or KAIO + KSG

I think they work better then "dressings"
 
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