Thread: Defender vent seals installation

Originally Posted by TeamFA

G'day Philco,

Can I ask where you bought the foam strip from? Sounds like something I might try and get done this weekend...

Cheers!

i did a similar thing with self adhesive from clark rubber. 15mm wide, 12mm thick. I stuck the rubber onto the flap (not bulkhead). The lip on the bulkhead sits in the rubber. To improve sealing I nicked the seal with a razor about 3mm deep so the lip on the bulkhead sits in the rubber rather than compressing it. The rubber now sits flush on the inside and outside of the lip. Creates a large contact patch between rubber and bulkhead.

No empirical evidence but i think it works better than when it was compressed and not flush.

As for the poster that hosed the vents. My defer still drips on my foot when it rains, so i assume it's coming from another source than the vents.

cheers MLD

Originally Posted by TeamFA

G'day Philco,

Can I ask where you bought the foam strip from? Sounds like something I might try and get done this weekend...

Cheers!

Yea sure. i went to Century Rubber at Ashmore, in the Anaconda/ Supercheap Auto complex on Nerang-Southport Rd.
I think it cost about $5 or $6 a metre. It was the firm compression approx same size as the factory type fitted. i think 19mm wide x 9mm thick.
I didn't cut the slit for the edge of the bulkhead to sit into.
No leaks so i'm Happy with dry feet.

Originally Posted by MLD

i did a similar thing with self adhesive from clark rubber. 15mm wide, 12mm thick. I stuck the rubber onto the flap (not bulkhead). The lip on the bulkhead sits in the rubber. To improve sealing I nicked the seal with a razor about 3mm deep so the lip on the bulkhead sits in the rubber rather than compressing it. The rubber now sits flush on the inside and outside of the lip. Creates a large contact patch between rubber and bulkhead.

No empirical evidence but i think it works better than when it was compressed and not flush.

As for the poster that hosed the vents. My defer still drips on my foot when it rains, so i assume it's coming from another source than the vents.

cheers MLD

The extra drip might be coming thru the windscreen rubber.
I got my windscreen replaced and got an aftermarket rubber for them to use. cut my cost down, they said it should be dry fitted but it leaked like a sieve so i went back and asked them to seal it with the proper sealant on the inside and outside.
Never had a leak through the rubber since.

I wondered why I was getting a flood in the passenger side over the last few months, the seal has collapsed and fallen off at the top of the vent

6* here tonight, I better get onto Karcraft and get some new seals happening next week or it could be a touch chilly.

Well Ive been testing mine with the high presure cleaner and no leaks yet, but time will tell how they stand up against the elements.

I just installed these rubber (older style) gaskets as well (with contact adhesive). However, I cant close the flap/ vents the entire way, just upto to second-to-last notch. I assume new rubber needs to bed-in, but has anyone else had this issue?

It's funny that this thread resurfaced. I've just replaced my seals for the same reason.
I replaced them last weekend with the older style seals. I glued them in with contact adhesive and so far seems ok.
We had a bit of rain last week and the floors stayed dry. I haven't had a chance to test the door leaks while driving but suspect that they will due to the door seal around the door where it's shaped.
I have found it a little harder to close the vents due to the stiff seals but it seems to be getting easier.

Anyone got any pics of what they did - I also need to do mine