Hardtop Seal installation

[Rolland]

Searching the site, I'm unablle to find the best way to install the seals in the channels of the hardtop.  The ones I'm referring to are the seals for windows that roll up and touch the seals on the hardtop, not the back or quarter window glass.

Thanks,

Rolland

[Jim C]

Do you have the anti-sliding clips (metal piece with 4 sharp points) for each seal?  If so, position the clips in the channel where the points are toward the rubber seal and the circle on the back side of the clip goes into a hole in the channel.  Without moving the clips, align the seal so that the ends are where you want them to be and push the squared side of the seal into the squared side of the channel.  Take a popsicle stick and press the rounded side of the seal into place in the channel working from one end to the other.

Should be very easy.

Many people lose the anti-slide clips.  If you do not have them you can still install the seal, but the rubber can potentially slide end to end.

Jim

[66andBlue]

Rolland,
I assume you have OEM seals, that is, the one-piece seal that goes into the rail on top and on the side window (#16).
Note the profile circled in red. The rubber should fit perfectly into the grooves of the channel - but watch out, there is a left and a right seal!
I start from the corner and work the seal in from there. The most critical point is the front of the rubber where it meets the windshield/A-pillar corner. If there is any gap in that corner you'll 'enjoy' some whistling a higher speeds.  
I don't believe that the 4-pronged clips are in the top channel, I have seen them only in the A-pillar rail.
CORRECTION: there are 2 of these clips on the hardtop in the top rail.

And there are 2 angle clips on each end. See:
http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=13160.0

[Jordan]

Rolland, if you have the antislip clips start installing the seal at the corner and then work your way out to each end.  This way you will ensure that the corner of the seal ends up in the corner of the window.  If you start at one end and you are off by a little bit you will have to start again because the corner of the seal will not line up with the corner of the window.  If you don't have the antislip clips you can just slide it along the channel.  As Jim says, once you get started its pretty easy.
Marcus

[Rolland]

Jim, Alfred & Marcus, thanks for the help.  I do have OEM seals, found the Classic Center to be competive on price with other suppliers, so it made to sense to not use OEM.  Now, I've got to check on the clips, I don't recall seeing any so they may be lost from the PO.

Rolland

[Rolland]

meant to say, "made sense to use OEM."

Rolland

[66andBlue]

Rolland,
here is the p/n for the clip: 113 988 02 78 - should be about $1.50/each from MB.
If you also do the soft top then you need another pair for each rail.

[Rolland]

Thanks again Alfred.  I am also doing the soft top, so will order enough for both.

Rolland

[Cees Klumper]

Off-topic - because of the logic of the sentence, I read right over the 'not' ...

meant to say, "made sense to use OEM."

Rolland