skip to bottom of post if you want a TL;DR

A little bit after I got my car, an ‘87 hardtop bird, the (presumably) factory original weatherstrip on the driver’s side start leaking under rain. Not knowing any better, I ordered new weatherstrips from OER because surely a company carrying GM licensed restoration parts were good quality.

As you probably guessed, the OER strips were overpriced garbage and barely similar to the factory strips. They did stop the leak… for a month until another one sprung somewhere on a different place on the strip. I ended up not even installing the passenger’s door strip.

I did some readings on the forum and decided to go with Fairchild weatherstrips from 1a auto. Shipping was free and fast, the overall cost was less than classic industries by probably 10 bucks.

The Fairchild strips fit on so much better and, unlike the OER strips, are actually molded to the windows.

TL;DR Fairchild strips fit better, look better, presumably work better, and in my case cost less than the OER strips. The OER strips were barely even molded, any place they look like they are is from where the window shaped them. I have attached some comparison photos below.



OER (right) and Fairchild (Left)

OER Corner

Fairchild corner

OER front end

Fairchild front end

OER rear end

Fairchild rear end

Fairchild strip on car

 

Thanks for the information.
Can anyone tell me what the best replacement door weatherstrip is? Seems like everything I've looked at online has bad reviews...

 

I prefer Fairchild. They have the reinforced ends that a lot of the others don't.

 

Good information.

TL, I just bought a kit from Steele. They are local so decided to give them the business. It will be awhile before getting them installed though, stocking up on parts at the moment. Had good reviews though.
Steele Rubber Products - Home

 

Reviving an old thread...

I put Metro SoftSeal on my car about ten years ago, and the driver side never has looked right. Like the OP pics show, there's supposed to be a lip over the glass. My passenger side is like that, but the drivers side isn't. It doesn't leak, but at higher speeds the cabin pressure makes it whistle. I just ordered the Fairchild kit from 1A Auto, so hopefully it'll be better.

 

I used their weatherstripping for my 1972 Buick GS 2d ht. Fit perfect after stretching the material lengthwise. no leaks & no leaks.
Fortunately, the weatherstripping on my '84 T/A is in great condition.

 

For a small update, the fairchild strip has been holding up great. Never changed out the factory strip on the other-side as it hasn’t been leaking and I very quickly learned I hate/suck at installing weatherstrips. The only problem I have is that sometimes I can roll my window up too high for the strip, but that’s because I never adjusted the window and I think my window “triangle” is broken as I can roll the window up through it way more on the driver’s side than passengers.

As for the best weatherstrip debate: get a Time Machine and steal a set of GM strips new in the 80s. Otherwise, Fairchild and Steele seem to be the common favorites.

 

Hawks shows a GM weatherstrip for the left side, but who knows if it's the real thing, or just GM's name on another company's product.

 

Likely a GM licence deal. GM gets their piece & licencee gets their junk & product not up to GM standard.

 

I have Fairchild in my hard top. It was put in 3 months ago and fit well. It's still harder to shut the doors but not by much. I'm really happy w the quality. I got the full set for the whole car.

 

Interesing about the GM weatherstrip, but I have to agree with 72buickgs that it’s probably OER level junk with a GM name slapped on it.

 

I got the Fairchild weatherstripping today. I haven't installed them, but just looking at them they look and feel much more like original than the Metro stuff. The Metro feels more like foam sponge, whereas this feels more like soft rubber.

 

Does the Fairchild door weatherstripping still have the molded in hard plastic insert at the top of the door on the end cap like the OEM GM door weatherstripping did? I had heard that it did have it then that they quit having it molded into the weatherstripping.

 

Mine had the hard plastic in the stock spots.