Re: door seals

[John Greenstreet <jgreenst@motown.ge.com>]

> From quattro-owner@swiss.ans.net Mon Nov  7 18:55:24 1994
> From: zm@mhcnet.att.com (Zafer Mehmood  [209])
> Date: Mon, 7 Nov 1994 13:33:57 +0500
> Original-From: mhcnet!zm (Zafer Mehmood  [209])
> Original-To: swiss.ans.net!quattro
> Subject: Re: door seals
> X-Sun-Charset: US-ASCII
> Reply-To: quattro@swiss.ans.net
> 
> > > 
> > >   As winter approaches and the temps get lower, my door seals are 
> > > starting to shrink.  This in turn raises the noise level inside not
> > > to mention an occasional breeze or two.  Anyone have any info on 
> > > ordering seals for Audis (mine is an '86 4000 cs quattro)?
> > > 
> > 
> > I've never heard of this, but it sounds reasonable.  I recommend
> > applying a coat of silicone spray on exposed rubber parts (e.g.  door
> > gaskets, CV-boots, exhaust hangers, suspension bushings) in order to
> > preserve them thru the winter.  Spraying the door gaskets is a standard
> > yearly M-B maintenance procedure.
> > 
> > The silicone also prevents the door gaskets from sticking in wet,
> > freezing weather.
> 
> What type of silicon spray should be used? The ones I have say "silicon
> spray lube". Is this the same? Any brands recommended? Thanks.
> 

I've tried many, and they all seem to be about the same.  Just make
sure it's labelled "silicon spray lube" and is not a penetrating oil,
i.e. don't use anything like WD-40 for this purpose.  And Jack Van
Geldern brought up that one could also use a silicone-based
rubber/vinyl protectant as well on the door mouldings, which I also
do, however I would not recommend ArmorAll for this, as it tends
to discolor things after a while.

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John Greenstreet, Senior Engineer           (jgreenst@motown.ge.com)
Martin Marietta Government Electronic Systems    Moorestown NJ 08057
WPI Class of '75, Temple Class of '94

My new car history:
  1975    1978    1982       1986        1989      1992      1995
   VW ->  Audi -> Audi  -> Mercedes -> Mercedes -> Audi -> Mercedes
Scirocco Fox GTI  4000S    190E 2.3    190E 2.6    100CS     S320

POSSLQ's* new car history:
         1978       1981       1985      1988        1990     1993
       Triumph ->  Toyota ->  Toyota  ->  VW    ->   Audi  -> Audi
       Spitfire    Tercel     Corolla   Jetta GL      80      90S

*POSSLQ = Person of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters
Note: All Audis and Mercedes above were sold to friends or family.
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