2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Door weatherstripping

[SRath]

I was just trying to put my interior back together; it's been apart for awhile. Among many other things, like rustproof primer and paint for the floor should my rear window ever leak again, I also finally installed the new door weatherstrips I bought a couple years ago.

Now my trim won't fit. The new stuff looked perfectly the same, but it turns out the plastic trim for the rear side panels and the pillar posts and kick panel/threshhold pieces need a deeper groove for the plastic to snap over.

I'm sorry if I'm not doing a good job describing the problem, but if you look at how your plastic interior trim pieces go over the weatherstripping, you will see what I mean. The outside edge of the trim wraps around the weatherstrip welting and needs some depth between the welting and bulbous part to snap and stay in place and for the existing plastic panel/sheet metal holes to line up.

This sucks! I already paid dearly for that weatherstripping and my old stuff is completely shot, but I simply cannot put the interior plastic trim back on with this new stuff. And it was a perfect fit right up until the final step...

I can't even remember where I bought the stuff. So who sells weatherstripping that actually fits and for how much?

 

[JDiehl]

Did you look at LMC truck?

 

[SRath]

No, I didn't check LMC. The two problems I now face (besides what I already bought being so close, but no cigar) is that none of the interior panels can be installed until I get the right stuff, and the fact I cannot for the life of me remember where I bought the ones that do not fit, and do not want to repeat that mistake.



I would really hate to end up with another set just like them. I generally keep my online order confirmation emails from Rockauto, and I cannot find them in that folder, so I'm hoping the ones I'm ordering from there will be different and correct.



I found genuine Mopar door seals for sale online... for $120 apiece with shipping!!! Which is about $190 more than a set of aftermarket door seals. "Right now" is one of those times where I have more time than money, and I'm trying to get some of the things done that I have squirreled the parts away for, but haven't found time to install. Those Mopar door seals are out of the question, and I wasn't very impressed with the oem seals anyway.



The Rockauto ones are not in-stock items, and 'shipping may be delayed up to 5 business days' (I sure hope not), but they are only about $25 each with shipping and the discount Bruce supplied.



This is just one of those aggravations and wastes of money that happens sometimes when I buy things I need before I have time or am ready to install them. In this case, I did not want to repeatedly tear my interior apart for all the various things that I needed to do, so I "planned ahead" and waited until I had everything and could do it all at once, which is also a good way of rationalizing my procrastination.



Example: new rear speakers and wiring + wiring for power sliding rear window + rustproof and paint floor + install pillar post gauges + replace worn out door seals + access all interior cab cavities for Fluid Film application + install some type of seat covers, etc etc. Each of those things requires at least some or all of the interior trim be removed, as well as the seats. It is also then a good time to do a bunch of underdash wiring for various add-ons. So my truck has already been down for some time, and the weatherstripping just stopped the project in it's tracks in the re-assembly stage.



So now I'm whining and complaining, of course, because I need my truck and just hit a one to two week delay... Not to mention having wasted money on parts that don't fit and cannot be returned now.

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Scott,

Try this site to download a parts manual for your truck:
Mopar Parts for Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep: MoparPartsAmerica

Here are a couple of online genuine Mopar parts discount links:

https://www.dodgeparts.com/contact_us.php

Dodge Parts - Global Dodge Parts

Mopar Parts - America's Genuine OEM Parts Catalog for Mopar Parts from MoparOne.com

Mopar Parts for Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep: MoparPartsAmerica

Prices do vary between sites as well as shipping. Should be a little cheaper than what you found.


Bruce

 

[SRath]

Those are very useful links for me, Bruce. Just the thought of needing to buy oem/Dodge dealer parts makes me flinch usually. Thanks again!

 

[fest3er]

I'd've replied sooner, but the right neurons weren't firing 'til now. Sounds like you are replacing the window sweeps. Before you spend more money, check the install and fit. It's been three years, and my memory is a little fuzzy. IIRC, I had the same problems and similar thoughts. I had to remove and reinstall one or another of the sweeps before I could re-install the door panels. Or the groove was there, but hidden because the sweeps push apart more and compress the groove into non-existence. Or there's a 'flap' that hides the groove. But do look at it again; you'll find your groove. ) Sorry, I had to say it. ) Re-installing the panels was somewhere between trivial and difficult; it did take some effort.

If you do need replacements, I bought after-market ones (inner, outer and around window) that fit very well. Now, where did I put the emails... Ah, here it is: EBay: 1A Automotive. Or go to 1A Auto : Aftermarket Auto Parts, Car Body Parts, Replacement & New Automobile and Truck Parts | Buy Discount Car & Auto Parts Online. The window felts ('squeegee') are $65 now and the door-to-body weatherstrip is $37. They don't seem to have the window-to-door-frame seals, which I also replaced at some point.

I'm still happy with the sweeps. They're holding up well after three years. The window seals are holding up well, too, but I don't remember when or where I bought them.

 

[SRath]

So far, the window sweeps are holding up OK, Neal. I'm talking about the big fat weatherstripping that goes all the way around the doors. It has a welt that goes on over the metal pinch seam of the jamb, and has the bulbous seal that seals the whole door attached to it.

The welt part that presses over the pinch seam is not deep enough and will not allow the pillar trim, door sill trim, or rear side panel to go on all the way, the wrap-around lip on the plastic parts hits the bulbous seal before the plastic seats or lines up with the screw holes, and 1/4" makes all the difference. I could probably drill new holes for the rear panel screws, but the skinny little kick panel and pillar trim pieces in the front of the door jamb have no screws and rely solely on "clipping on" over that pinch welting to stay in place.

You really have to compare the old and new seals side-by-side to notice the difference, and only after extensive beating on the plastic trim with a dead-blow hammer still wouldn't get it seated far enough did I even have a reason to do a side-by-side comparison. The old and new door seals appeared identical until then, but now I knew what the problem was, so the "why" became obvious. There's about 3/8" difference in seating depth.