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Sun Aug 20, 2006 4:14 am

Hi
Now that all the work has been done on my car, we've come to put the back window in, but the new seal i've got (empi brand) seems to fat! We've put alot of force onto it and it still won't fit!
We've used the proper procedure (soapy water, string around groove) and we got most of it in, but around the top is still buldging out and it seems that it just isn't going to fit!!
Any ideas before i take it to an auto glass specialists tommorow? I'd much rather save the money!!

Thanks,
-Josie

Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:03 am

although i know nothing about installing window rubber, i can tell you that the seal probably isn't real 'empi', which might suggest that the quality of your rubber is crap.
Empi don't make seals as far as I know (for type 3 windows at least), and since your in Australia, can I assume you got them from wolfsburg automotive? the guy who owns that business, also owns the rights to the name 'empi' in australia, although he has nothing to do with the famous empi that has been around for decades. So he pretty much calls everything he sells 'empi', because legally he can.

Sorry for not helping with your technical question though!

Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:38 am

Ah great... so the seals i bought are probably crap?
The write up on them sounds good..
Seen the ad in VWMA?
It says that they don't use reconstituted rubber... so i thought that would mean it would be good quality.. they certainly feel nice and soft and pliable (but strong)

Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:04 am

My rear window took 4 attempts before we finally got it in. On mine about the time the top finally got in place, the bottom had kicked out. We ended using a 3rd person to get it to go. The 2 people on the outside were literally holding the glass and seal in place (after the rope was removed), while I worked the rope and the sealing lip. The rear window on a Notch is a pretty big piece of glass, and I think it partly scared me doing it. I was very nervous with it, since it was the only one I had of it. I used a seal from Bill and Steves, but it started cracking around the outer corners after 4 months. :( It still doesn't leak, but it does look like crap, compared to the WCM seals on the car. I hope this helps.

Sun Aug 20, 2006 9:40 am

Bobnotch wrote: My rear window took 4 attempts before we finally got it in. On mine about the time the top finally got in place, the bottom had kicked out. We ended using a 3rd person to get it to go. The 2 people on the outside were literally holding the glass and seal in place (after the rope was removed), while I worked the rope and the sealing lip.

Ditto to what Bob wrote. We attempted to put the rear glass in the Notch and it was a bitch. It took three people; two outside and one inside pulling. We did it twice and it sill wasn't perfect so I popped it out again. On the first try the bottom center refused to seat. :evil: On the second try the upper passenger-side corner did the same. So we pushed it out again. :evil: :evil: Unfortunately on that attempt the metal trim got damaged so I ordered a new one from Alex (ISP West). It's at a shop now getting the windshield installed by a pro (not even chancing that!). When it's back in my garage we'll try attempt #3. I'm using ISP West seals and they seem to be the correct ones.

Sun Aug 20, 2006 4:37 pm

what do ISP sell? west coast metric?

Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:57 pm

Don't know. Don't care. Everything I've bought from Alex & Anthony has worked for me. If I have a problem I contact them and they remedy it. My experience: Alex has always been an honest, straight forward business man and since they deal w/ T3 parts....need I say more. :?

Sun Aug 20, 2006 9:42 pm

well i do care, mark. if anyone knows.....?

Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:45 am

PM Anthony and ask him. :?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=8155

Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:12 pm

parkerlewis wrote: what do ISP sell? west coast metric?

our cal look rubber is mainly new old stock from the 80's we found a few shops that closed over the years with type 3 left overs, at one time they had big loads of it, so they are new old cal look seals for the most part....

Anthony / ISP WEST

Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:43 pm

PIMPPRIDE wrote: so they are new old cal look seals for the most part....

Anthony / ISP WEST

So would that be NOS cal look? :wink: :lol: Sorry, I couldn't leave that one alone. :D

Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:37 pm

PIMPPRIDE wrote: our cal look rubber is mainly new old stock from the 80's
Anthony / ISP WEST

...what about the OG look, with trim? I just got both the front and rear glass installed with seals/trim bought from Alex .

Edit: For info the pro that installed my windshield (he has over 20 yrs experience in auto glass installation) uses pure Linseed oil to lubricate the seal instead of soapy water. He puts it on with a small cotton ball-like applicator. He said he likes it more than soap/water because it doesn't damage paint/seals, and dries to a gummy consistancy which aids in sealing between the seal and the car body/glass. After the glass is in he cleans it up with a small amount of 3M adhesive remover or wax/grease remover.

Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:45 pm

ok thanks guys

Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:50 am

I just tried to instal my quater windows and used cal look empi rubber. It is garbage I got the window in and it looked good then noticed the window pulling back out. The damn rubber was ripping itself apart on the glass. Empi rubber sucks The car is going to a glass shop today to have all the glass installed.