Weatherstrip Installation Tips
General tips:
- If you notice bend or distortion of the weatherstrip due to packing, put the weatherstrip under the sun or in a hot car for a couple of hours to "unwind" the rubber back to shape
- Prep new weatherstrip that requires adhesive. Clean with denatured alcohol to remove mold release agent from the factory. See reference article.
- Where adhesive is required, use 3M Black Weatherstrip Adhesive on City Racer weatherstrips. Do not choose 3M "Super" Black adhesive, as it's not formulated for EPDM rubber.
- Caveat: Use 3M Super Black on OEM weatherstrips, as those are not EPDM.
- How to properly glue weatherstrip
Windshield and glass weatherstrips:
- Installed without adhesive.
- Use the rope method. See reference video.
Door weatherstrips without pins (e.g. FJ40 front door and rear ambulance door weatherstrips)
- Installed with adhesive.
- Clean off old adhesive with 3M adhesive remover and/or Goo Gone.
- Install new weatherstrip with 3M Black Weatherstrip Adhesive.
- Fit FJ40 front door weatherstrips on the flat areas of the door periphery past the raised ridges.
Weatherstrips with pins (e.g. FJ60 front and rear door weatherstrips)
- Installed without adhesive
Roof weatherstrip / seal
- Installed without adhesive
Windshield spacer
- The bolts holding the brackets at the lower corners are multi-directional adjustment devices and should be loosened before installing the weatherstrip (All the bolts on the windshield frame are adjustable).
- Squash the seal by closing the windshield to its place gradually.
- The rubber is sandwiched between the seams of the mating panels at the front of the windshield to perform the sealing function.
Post installation
- It is normal for the vehicle's door to shut more tightly, or protrude slightly after installing new rubber. This phenomenon is widely observed with both OEM and aftermarket weatherstripping.
- After a period of time, the rubber will settle and become more compressed.