nomoexes

After much reflection, and no info on the net, on how to this I decided to give it a try on my own. The lower window outer seal front doors specifically. Mine were cracked and looked horrible. First you have to find them...hang on to wallet there not cheap. Ok the big deal on these is the placement of the lower portion of the seal in the door and at the same time the insertion of the nipple into the 1/8 inch groove in the door. There is no way to do this-successfully- with the door window in place. So after you take the door panel away-mind the placement of wires- raise the window 3/4 up to loosen all the supporting nuts. Pull the window out. Set the window aside. Thoroughly clean the grove of all debris (wax rubber etc,). Get a can of WD 40 and spray into the 1/8 inch groove (channel) in the door(thats runs the length of the door). Place your hand underneath through the door to push the seal upward to catch the lower groove on to the lower metal protruding holder (runs the length of the door). Now take a very small screwdriver flat head (Stanley sells them you'd almost use them to repair glasses but bigger) and gently press the nipple into the channel. I started in the middle. Went about 8 inches and then pulled the rubberseal (while in the channel started- the WD40 slippery effect) to the very end toward the rearview mirror. You need to lay the whole seal out to the length of the door. Make sure that the bend in the end of the seal lays flat just to where the outer door channel makes the arc. Ok keep gently pressing in the rubber in. I took the back of a rubber screwdriver and gently ran the plastic rounded end over the lenghth of the seal to ensure it evened out the bumps. Ok now that this is done the only way that window is going back in is if you take it apart. Place it on a gentle surface (carpet) loosen the srcrews and gently tap a screwdriver with a rubber mallet and separate the metal holder away from the window. Ok clean evevrything nicely and then take the window and insert it back into the door. Minus the hardware. The window goes in with no problem. you do need someone else to hold it while you place the mounting pieces back on the window (while its inthe door). Gently lift the window so the nylon wheel in the window regulator finds the channel. Reattach the screws and put the door panel back on. Thats it. I know this sounds crazy but its the only way. No wonder 5 body shops turned me down and ran when they saw the seal. Noone would touch the job. I know why now

Fabio421

Congrats on the seal install.

Please see the stickied thread at the top of the forum regarding our FL Kissimmee get together. We would love to see you there. You can show of that Weisach.

85Shark

Thanks for the info Nomo my passenger side is showing moderate cracking and I was not looking forward to this fix, now I feel a little more comfortable working on it. Where did you find your part?

85Shark

Even better.

Fabio421

There was a thread recently where someone did this job without removing the window. I tried searching but couldn't find it. He had a pic of his worn out thumb asking "what did I do".

bfellows

That would be me:

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/445200-guess-which-job-i-ve-just-spent-3-hrs-doing.html

nomoexes

Yes I did try it with the Glass in place. The problem I encounterd was correctly seating the lower portion of the seal on to the lower metal ledge. By placing your hand underneath your assured that its well seated so that it does'nt slid up when you raise the window. Not that there would be a market for this...but if someone could mold a 1 inch wide by 6 inch long flat piece of metal with a J bend on the bottom you could be assured proper seatment. I suspect the part exists somewhere in a Porsche Body shop. As for the seal I found that forestfine.com (England) has them cheaper than in the USA. Go figure.

Brad W

I took the window out. It was fast and easy for me that way.

Okv

I replaced mine recently, without removing the window.
Not too bad of a job, I would say a S*tan-factor of 2 to 3 on a 1-10 scale.
Did not break anything, the job was completed and it looks like I got it right, only minor health damage.

I used silicone lubricant meant for rubber gascets on rear side the seal (the side that goes on to the door), window down, started at the front, working my way backwards.
it is not easy to do, but I think anyone can make it with some patience.
Most of the fingers wore out on the first seal; with the practice only minor finger-damage doing the second.

kevinod

Did this myself recently, without removing or loosening the window. Would probably have been easier if I did though.
Started at the back, got the seal hooked in at the bottom, and a few inches over the top without putting it into the groove. Then slid the seal forward bit by bit until it was at the front, all of the bottom in place. Next got a few inches of the lip into the groove, and worked the rest of the lip over the top (slowly bit by bit, patiently 'cos it doesn't take too much to unseat the bottom at this stage). Once all the top lip was in place, used a chisel (couldn't find a wide screwdriver, this was next best) to gradually move along the seal putting it into the groove bit by bit, again slowly and patiently. Rolling a screwdriver head over the top to flatten it out as I went along.

Have the other side to do one of these days, once I source a seal for a cost of less than my soul, lol, might try loosening or removing the window to see if that is much easier I think.