|
Re: 1989 lesabre door seal replacement
You can use the seal from the other car, but you have to be VERY careful while removing it (procedure below).
The door seal is held both mechanically and with adhesive inside a channel along the top and front edge of the door (around the window opening), and with the small "christmas-tree" style push-in plastic retaining clips every few inches around the remaining sides of the door.
The seal material is foam rubber with a smooth skin. It's very easy to tear the skin. Also very easy to tear the foam while trying to remove the seal from the channel.
So, get some practice on your ruined seal first, as you can do that one no additional harm. If you can remove that one w/o damaging it more, then you'll be a pro by the time you want to take off the good seal from the other car. Wax on, wax off, grasshopper!
The little plastic clips are pretty easy to remove. Pull the ws (short for weatherstripping) gently away from the door and you'll see where the clips are, as the ws won't pull away at these spots (about 3" apart IIRC, and don't pull too hard, as you'll pull the seal right off of the clips). Now take two flat screwdrivers, and insert them between the door and the ws, one on each side of the clip, as close to the clip as you can get them. Gently and evenly lift the ws away from the door and the clip will pull out of the hole. Rinse and repeat. This will get you 2/3 of the way around the door.
The top channel is a bit trickier, due mainly to the adhesive. Start on the top, back corner of the door and work towards the front of the car. Gently lift up the edges of the ws to get them free from the channel on each side. Now you'll have to use a wood chisel or narrow gasket scraper or similar tool to scrape along the bottom of the channel in order to release the adhesive while you gently lift up on the ws (notice how many times I've used the word 'gently'?).
This is where you're most likely to tear the ws and ruin it. Breathe deep and take your time! I can't tell you how many good door seals I've ruined while doing this, trying to get them off quickly ("HEYYYYYY_O, JUNKYARD IS CLOSING IN 5 MINUTES" oh crap, I need to get this off and get out of here). You may also need to use a narrow screwdriver in the edges of the channel on each side in order to release the adhesive in there, if present.
Like I said, try it FIRST on your old, ruined door seal to practice. Then you'll know what you're in for. Good luck!
__________________
Buick Owner since 1993, 1988 Buick Electra T-Type, 221K miles, sold 7/09
2001 Lesabre Custom w/overnight battery drain fixed by batt. disconn. switch
|
