C3 door window wiper felts - rebuilding?

[Scott O.]

Hi,
Is anyone able to replace the felts on my original door window wiper seals? I wasted $80 on US made reproductions, after a couple hours of trying to fit them. My originals fit fine, just a little hard.
Thanks, Scott

[Bill C.]

Re: C3 door window wiper felts - rebuilding?

Find old nos ones.
Will fit correctly.

Dont think you can rebuild old ones.

[Patrick H.]

Re: C3 door window wiper felts - rebuilding?

If the repros you have are the ones made by CC, I had to move the clips on them a bit to make them correctly fit the spacing on my door. Once I did that all was well. Just like every repro piece they required a bit of modification to work.

[Robert R.]

Re: C3 door window wiper felts - rebuilding?

Scott
If you have your original felts, try using a small brass wire brush to clean away the caked on stuff. This saved me from needing to replace them on my car.

[Scott O.]

Re: C3 door window wiper felts - rebuilding?

Find old nos ones.
Will fit correctly.

Dont think you can rebuild old ones.

I'll start looking, maybe there will be some in Florida.
Thanks, Scott

[Scott O.]

Re: C3 door window wiper felts - rebuilding?

If the repros you have are the ones made by CC, I had to move the clips on them a bit to make them correctly fit the spacing on my door. Once I did that all was well. Just like every repro piece they required a bit of modification to work.

How did you move them?
Scott

[Scott O.]

Re: C3 door window wiper felts - rebuilding?

I was able to clean them up with a toothbrush and mild soap. Rubber is still somewhat hard. Started with removing the door panel for vinyl repair, saw the crossbar had some surface rust. Took the window out to make it easier to wirebrush and rust treatment. Removed felts to remove outer trim from door. Outer trim had rust stains on the sides contacting the door. Found a really easier way to remove rust stains from trim, in retrospect I should have taking pictures posted it. When I do the other door, might make a good Restorer article.
Another case of while I'm in there, and so it goes.
Thanks, Scott

[Patrick H.]

Re: C3 door window wiper felts - rebuilding?

How did you move them?
Scott

The clips are only held on with bent-over tabs.

For the ones I needed to move (you won't have to move all of them) I straightened out the tabs and pushed the clip out. I then used a linear punch to make new holes just slightly over from where the misplaced holes were located. Having the originals helped to do this as well, but laying the new felt against the door also confirmed the location(s). Once I knew where the clips had to go I punched the holes, inserted tabs from the clips, bent them back over and I was done.

I told CC about the misalignment after I installed them. Obviously 16 years later they haven't corrected the process.

You will spend a lot less time moving the clips than you spent trying to install the misaligned ones that came on there.

[Scott O.]

Re: C3 door window wiper felts - rebuilding?

The clips are only held on with bent-over tabs.

For the ones I needed to move (you won't have to move all of them) I straightened out the tabs and pushed the clip out. I then used a linear punch to make new holes just slightly over from where the misplaced holes were located. Having the originals helped to do this as well, but laying the new felt against the door also confirmed the location(s). Once I knew where the clips had to go I punched the holes, inserted tabs from the clips, bent them back over and I was done.

I told CC about the misalignment after I installed them. Obviously 16 years later they haven't corrected the process.

You will spend a lot less time moving the clips than you spent trying to install the misaligned ones that came on there.

I"m going to return them, especially because it's a know issue they chose not to correct. For now I will use my originals, while searching for NOS.
Thanks, Scott