Pro Tips for Weatherstrips

There are times when it’s painfully obvious that you need new weatherstripping: you have an identified leak, a seal gets torn or ripped, or it might be missing completely. However, in many cases it’s not that obvious. Chances are if you wait until you’re seeing the road through the crack at the bottom of your door, you should’ve replaced your weatherstripping a long time ago.

So, when should you replace your weatherstripping? Here are some signs that it’s time to go ahead and replace those old, worn-out seals with fresh new ones:

• They just look worn out. If it’s dried out, cracked, discolored or droopy, it needs to be replaced. Not only will deteriorated weatherstripping leave your ride vulnerable to all the bad things that moisture brings, but it’s also an eye sore. Fresh, new, supple rubber parts really are the finishing touch to make a build look “straight-off-the-assembly-line” good.
• If the vehicle is over 25 years old (and still has the original weatherstripping), you should replace it. Years ago, the rubber compounds used to make these parts weren’t as good as they are today. Here at Steele, we use high quality EPDM rubber with no fillers, making them last for decades.
• You’re experiencing increased noise in the cabin. If you can hear wind, rattling windows, or even just road noise, your weatherstripping could be to blame. You’ll have to play detective and find clues to figure out specifically where the noise is coming from.
• Unexplained water in the vehicle. You’ll have to be a detective again to figure out exactly where it’s coming from. It could absolutely be due to a bad seal, but there’s also a number of other potential causes. 
• It no longer has a bouncy, positive seal. If your weatherstripping looks deflated, flattened and has more of a passive seal, meaning it’s there, but it’s not doing its job.
• On the flip side of that, it looks good, but it’s hard and brittle. Again, it’s there, but it’s not doing its job.

So, how can you tell if your weatherstripping has that positive seal that’s necessary for proper function?

The Dollar Bill Test is one way to tell for sure if a seal is doing its job or not:

You can use this test anywhere you have a squishy sponge rubber that seals against metal.

1. Open the door/trunk.

2. Take your dollar bill and place it part way across the seal and close the door. Make sure you leave enough of the bill showing so you can get a good grip on it for the test.

3. Gently pull on the dollar bill. If the seal is working properly there should be a little resistance preventing the bill from sliding out completely. However, if when you pull on the bill you don’t feel any resistance at all, odds are you’ve found a weak spot in the seal. Another thing you should note, if the bill comes out with a lot of gunk on it (sticky stuff), it likely means the seal has some gunk on it and is therefore also not sealing well (read more about How to Maintain Your Weatherstripping the Right Way).

Repeat steps 2 and 3 around the entire seal. Check the entire seal to be sure that there aren’t multiple weak points. If so, it’s probably best to replace the seal all together.

Does your weatherstripping pass the test? If so, cruise on! If not, take the time to fix it now so you don’t have a bigger problem later.

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At Steele, we’re more than just high-quality products, we’re your trusted resource for completing your weatherstripping projects with confidence.

Whether you’re working on a classic car or truck, street rod, RV, or boat, our expert team is here to help. If you have questions about weatherstripping or need product guidance, we’re just a call or click away.

📞 Call us at 800-650-4482
📧 Send us an email
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