Hi folks!
I had my t-top channels reworked and properly sealed up so I would just have to put new weatherstripping in and seal that up properly.
My original seals did not survive the ordeal in one piece, so I looked up many a thread about different vendors, watched a couple of videos and decided the fairchild set was my best bet.
They do have their peculiarities and maybe some issues, but so far no show stopper, but I'm having massive trouble getting the t-top edge to seal between the front and rear ends of the surrounding weatherstrip.

Basically, the edge seal seems to be too long, but I can't get it any shorter.
How have you guys tackled this issue?

The rear end seems to fit nicely into the receptacle.


It starts to look weird once the window comes up. Is this just how it is?



The front end...




And this is after I pulled the seal down by hand so the surfaces meet more properly, but this just can't be right.


Also, the weatherstripping is kind of bulgy around the center piece front and rear ends, making it very difficult to get the glass wedged in.

So, any advice from someone who's been there?


Thanks!

 

Since I'm the very first guy to install this weatherstripping, here's the deal.
Remove the metal plates from the front t-top mounts, the one the seal is screwed onto.
Enlargen both holes to the max for sideways movability, rustproof said part with zinc spray, reinstall.
Attach seal, move plate as far outward as needed, reposition t-top mount, fasten nuts.

Watch out for kinks in the seal down the A-pillar. Try moving the seal down along the channel till kink is gone, if possible.
A dab of butyl or whatever squeezed between the seal and the permanently attached plastic mount may help push the seal out a bit to correct the last bit of kink.

On t-top glass edge consider cutting the little tabs off the replacement seal to gain movability in seal channel.
The tabs are supposed to keep the seal ends as far apart from each other as possible, but that causes the kink in that area.
Close t-top, use fingers to pull end of edge seal into correct position, readjust t-top mount as far down as required.
Use sealant to keep seal in place, where necessary.

Do all the glass-adjusting and don't forget the triangle on front end of door.
Had to adjust it ALL. Move window back and up, adjust window tilt and stops, move window in, same for triangle.
Close door.
Let sit.

Return after several days of fever dreams about the situation.
Look at work.
Do water test.
Hope, pray, sacrifice something... whatever you need to do.

 

That instal sounds like a PITA. My Fairchild instal was much less eventful but I don't have t tops. The doors require more force to close but it's gotten better since installed in sept 2024. They do get softer.

 

Yep, it is.
Lessons have been learned though:
Weatherstripping that goes into channels needs to be inserted at the ENDS FIRST and then you work from the outside to the middle.
This way any excessive length gets compressed somewhere around the center and especially the glass edge seals then fit nicely.

My door seals are also from Fairchild and I remember having to slam the doors for the first few days until it got better, just like you said.
The t-top seals are not different and I have already adjusted the glass down a bit twice. Man, were they a tight fit at first.

 

If Fairchild is making them,.. they will almost certainly be the best aftermarket set available. Every other Fairchild seal I've used was better than the competition ! Thanks for the feedback !