Hi all, I just recently installed some new door seals. They’re the Fairchild ones and I think I did a decent enough job putting them in, but what I am asking about is that I heard that most new seals have a “break in” period where they have to conform to the door shape. Shutting the door is a real bitch as I have to slam pretty damn hard, and when I open it the door pops open somewhat forcibly. Is this normal, or an indication of a shitty install/product. If it’s normal how long am I going to have to wait for the seals to set shape?

Never. After-market seals suck...

currently around 4 weeks in on new door seals. still have to absolutely slam the dogsh*t out of the door otherwise it wont fully shut. I bought the d.i.y solutions kit from 1aauto and had a very negative experience with them and the company as a whole. The t top gaskets fit horribly, I brought it to 1aautos attention with the hopes of swapping them out but 1aauto just repeatedly accused me of having a cars & concepts t top car despite me sending them picture evidence that I have a normal t top car.

mine are about 4 years old, and still have to shut the door harder than id like

I've heard that Fairchild recently changed the design of their seals and they aren't like oem any more.

I managed the Auto Service and Repair Shop, for a major rental car company. I occasionally picked up new cars, right off the train. Doors never required slamming. NEVER.

Yeah, I don't understand what's so hard about making them the way the factory did...

Im betting cost is a big factor

I ran that shop in 1994. I'd get new take home cars, Intrepids, Taurus's were my favorite, brand new with 3-6 miles on them. I was SPOILED! At approx. 20,000 miles , they went to auction. Now rental companies keep the cars much longer.

they probably won't until the weather gets warmer,have patients leave the doors for a couple weeks

Geez based off of what y’all are saying maybe I should’ve just stuck with my crusty OEM seals

Hey wmccallum13, I bought the ones through HAWKS. Some were Fairchild and some were Metro. It honestly took them about a week or two until the seals were more pliable and my door required less slamming. The biggest change I noticed was adjusting the window for the best seal so that it required less slamming and a better seal. They initially leaked a lot of air freshly installed on the car and after adjusting the window, the wind noise on the highway is 90% less. Not gone, but a lot better.

kinda related, but not really...
... anyone with a HARDTOP car have a best recommendation for the "roof-rail" weatherstripping? I know thiis thread is abotu the weatherstripping that goes around the inside perimiter of the doors, but how about the weatherstripping that seals the window to the car body when the window is rolled up? I've seen mixed reviews on this forum after doing a pretty good search. I am thinking either SOFFSEAL or FAIRCHILD. all other weatherstripping in my car is in tip-top shape but the side-window/roof-rail seals gotta get done this spring, and I will spend money to buy a good set from a good company, if one exists.
some links

https://www.yearone.com/Product/1982-02-firebird/w779

(old thread but helps with a visual)
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exte...l-weather.html

https://www.steelerubber.com/hardtop...rip-82-0054-68

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...stripping.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...herstrips.html

I wasn't a fan of the Metro ones that I got from HAWKS as I could never eliminate wind noise (see last post). Some of the seals I got were Metro and some were Fairchild. The Fairchild ones seemed to be a lot higher quality.