Quality of reproduction rubber parts-Your thoughts.

[chevybill]

I recently intalled my flaming river steering column. I used a new rubber grommet for the hole where the column goes through the cab from chevy duty. It appears the grommet angle is not correct and the top of the gasket does not want to stay in place with the column installed.

Anyone had a similar experience? Is this typical of rubber products from the aftermarket (china)? I had let this grommet sit in the hole in the firewall for quite some time before installing the column and it still does not want to stay in place.

[chevybill]

thanks for the 53 views, any opinions?

[chevybill]

Anyone? before my thread dies..

[Sammy]

The piece you are having difficulty with is a pain anyway. I have used new & some NOS pieces and the slightest movement during the install tried my patience. But you are right on about some of the china made rubber. I have bought windshield rubber that was even obviously 2" too big & I threw it away. Now I buy from a board vendor they know the quality of their products. Inexpensive poorly made products end up costing me more in the long run. So mostly I don't bother. Same with a window regulator. I bought one lasted for 2 roll-ups, then the gear stripped.

[chevybill]

This rubber piece came from classic part of america, formerly chevy duty.
All these type of parts I ordered have came from overseas.

[N2GMTrux]

I have had problems with the rubber pieces which mount in the firewall also.... The trick I was told was to heat the rubber grommets with a hair dryer,,,,,, I used a heat gun be careful my first attempt I burnt the rubber a little but it worked and stayed in place,,,,, Then at the next swap meet I bought another rubber grommet and my second attempt was also successful without burning the rubber....

Hope this helps and works for you,,,, Good Luck!!!!

[chevybill]

Originally Posted by N2GMTrux

I have had problems with the rubber pieces which mount in the firewall also.... The trick I was told was to heat the rubber grommets with a hair dryer,,,,,, I used a heat gun be careful my first attempt I burnt the rubber a little but it worked and stayed in place,,,,, Then at the next swap meet I bought another rubber grommet and my second attempt was also successful without burning the rubber....

Hope this helps and works for you,,,, Good Luck!!!!

I really like the hair dryer trick, should have thought of that myself.
Additionally, the angle of the gasket does not appear correct since the top
keeps coming out, however, the heating from the hair dryer may fix this.

Anyone know of a "MADE in USA" supplier for these type of rubber parts?
All vendors I have talked to say it is off shore stuff only.

[72lb4x4]

Be careful putting the import rubber in places touched by the sun. The may disappear in a year. My filler neck grommet did... I'd be sad if it was a windshield seal.

[Sammy]

Yea I know about Chevy Duty. That was where I got my window regulator from. The windshield rubber I bought was from LMC. And since they both sat on my shelf for a year figured ohh well.

[muscletrucks]

http://166.82.96.9/homeframes.html

Check out Steele Rubber Products. I heard about them on Two Guys Garage.

[Riveted1]

My vote is for the heat gun... like was posted above, don't get too crazy or it'll melt/burn the part. But for thicker rubber parts a hair dryer just takes too long. For those that aren't in a hurry and live in hot areas like me, a driveway bathed in sun will loosen up those pieces pretty fast. One other way that I've never tried (only works with round pieces) is to lay the part on a light bulb long enough to soften the part.
I personally don't know if the American made rubber pieces will be much better. From my experience, they all take a little elbow grease to get em to fit just right. But I would rather see money going to our American companies instead of to the Chinese....