Windows Rubbers / Seals : Can They Be Stretched?

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

As we all know, Peugeot rubbers shrink with age. this lets water into our rear quarters etc and results in split seals on CTI doors. This is temperature related as my CTI split its passenger rubber over winter whilst stored in my garage.

 

I have some second hand seals and my question is, has anyone successfully stretched the rubbers and if so how did they do it and how long have they lasted?

 

I was thinking about buckets of boiling water, putting them in a vice etc.

 

Is this not a problem for our warmer European colleagues / a bigger problem for out Scandinavian friends?

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Henry, are you not tempted to bite the bullet and buy new whilst you still can? I'm assuming you are planning to hold onto the skip for a bit yet, so surely it would be a wise investment?

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

I'd be suprised if there wasnt a similar replacement available 'on the roll' so to speak. Might be worth somebody shooting a few emails off to some companies that do replacement trims etc with a photo and measurements of whats required.

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

Henry, are you not tempted to bite the bullet and buy new whilst you still can? I'm assuming you are planning to hold onto the skip for a bit yet, so surely it would be a wise investment?

 

They have dropped in price but it is still about £160 for a pair and I have some that are un-split and was just wondering if it was possible to stretch them a little before fitting them.

 

They are quite a tailored fit for the CTI so I doubt they would be easily available off the shelf as they wrap around the door edge

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

Oh right, didnt realise the Cti ones were different, may be a thought for Gti's in the coming years though.

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

yes on the cti the inside and outside rubbers are one piece with the shoulder of the door near the handle also being covered with the same wrap round part and shrivel up like you wouldnt believe

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

anybody have a pic? I'm curious now

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

are you asking for a pic of my shriveled up rubber? ooer lol

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

haha, well yes as it happens, I think I am!

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

Ok my current drivers door rubber and replacement for after ive painted it....the door that is not the rubber

 

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

Mine aren't as bad as that, but have shrunk a little.

I was thinking about doing the same using a bucket of boiling water, so let me know how you get on with your test one.

[Weser 30]

I was thinking about this yesterday. Mine are really bad on the Cti. Really let the appearance down and they really annoy me. Would be good if they can be stretched. I look forward to someone trying it.

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

yes they do stretch but soon shrink back due to outside weather, use caution tho they are VERY easy to snap cos after 25 years or so theyve gone quite brittle now and the outside strip seems to have some reinforcement dunno if it ally or what but its a lot stiffer than the inside strip

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

So we need some sectional cuts of an old one to determine if they have metal in or not. If they do stretch, what about bonding in a thin strip of metal (eg what you find on a wiper blade) to the inside to give it more rigidity?

 

I wonder if it is the cold that causes them to shrink? Any of our Scandinavian friends have this issue? Inversely, what about those in warmer climates, is this not an issue on the south of France?

[88lp 0 1 Cars]

^ It's definitely not just the cold that makes them shrink. All the ones I've seen here in Adelaide have shrunk too, including mine. It's never really cold even in winter but it can get ridiculously hot in summer.

[vern 0]

I tried to stretch a spare rear rubber on my CTi, I used a heat gun on gentle heat, and tried gentley to stretch, all was going good stretched about 6mm, then snap, with no warning of the imminent snap.

I bought new ones for the fronts, and they only lasted a couple of years before the shrinkage started.

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

I bought new ones for the fronts, and they only lasted a couple of years before the shrinkage started.

When? and where from?

[vern 0]

Got the fronts new about 5 years ago from peugeot.

[omri617 18]

maybe 206 rubbers fit ? anyone can think of a replacement that looks the same from other cars?

[Da Bootou 1]

I believe petro-chemical solutions (Oils / petrol / some degreasers) makes rubber expand and vinegar can stop perishing reaction of some latex materials.

If you have some old rubbers parts that are ready for the bin, might be worth trying a small section with some solution and see what the result is over a 2-3 day period.

 

I used degreaser on a Holden window rubber a few years ago, it certainly caused the rubber to swell (width and lenght), not what I call ideal, but it certainly softend the rubber up and got me out of the poo!

 

"If your desperate" might be worth a go!

 

Cheers