Car Door Rubber: Maintenance and Replacement

As many may know door rubber plays an important role in keeping the noise, vibration, and harshness down in the vehicle. It helps support the comfort factor of the vehicle. The rubber is there to protect the car door when it is opened and when it is closed. It also helps prevent rain from getting into the cabin as it channels the water away from the door area. 

With that said, rubber especially does not last forever, it will eventually break down and will need to be replaced. This is why we have created a quick guide for you to follow to help you understand what you need to look out for and when you will need to replace it in your vehicle.

The door rubber in your car has been made to adhere to a specific shape as it was designed to do so from the factory. If you see that your door rubber has begun to sag or deviate from its original shape it may be necessary to have it replaced. The backing adhesive may also sag or degrade over time, making the seals sag or go out of place. 

As previously stated, the rubber also helps with the NVH of the vehicle. If you hear the sound of metal clashing when you shut your car door it could be that the rubber has been damaged or is on its way out. You may also notice more engine noise, road noise, or more wind noise entering the cabin if any of the door rubber in your vehicle starts to give out.

A quick visual inspection will also do wonders for you in case you feel like your door rubber is on the way out. Just open all of the doors of your vehicle and check to see if any of the rubber is damaged. It is important to remember that if you leave your door rubber damaged it can lead to water getting into your vehicle over time thus leading to rust. It is highly recommended that you replace it at your earliest convenience. 

If you want your car door rubber to last as long as possible there are ways to go about it. It is an easy process and it isn’t as difficult as caring for other components in your car. With regular maintenance, the car door rubber will be able to last longer.

Park in the shade

One way that you can keep your car door rubber in top condition is by parking in the shade. This helps protect it from the sun and exposure so it does not dry up quickly. This will also help protect the door rubber from rain. The rubber getting exposed to either of these elements for too long will shorten its lifespan. 

Clean dirt from the car rubber

It’s a straightforward process but one that is often overlooked. If a lot of dirt sticks to the weatherstrips of your car it will lessen its lifespan. To avoid this, make sure that you regularly wash the car and flush the rubber been the doors as well. This will ensure that no further dirt or debris will contaminate the rubber. To further enhance the lifespan of the door rubber you can also choose to apply silicone fluid to help keep the door rubber moist for longer. Remember that when rubber dries it becomes brittle and will break easily. Using the silicone fluid will keep it from drying out for a longer time. 

Door rubber replacement

If your car door rubber is beyond saving, it’s time to have it replaced. While this may seem like a daunting task you can do it on your own. Getting the door rubber component is the only hard part you will encounter, as you will physically need to go to a shop and look for the door rubber or seal that fits your vehicle. There they can install the rubber for you or you can choose to do it on your own.

If you choose to do it on your own then replacing the door rubber is as simple as tugging it to free it from the frame. Make sure that you remove any other panels that may interfere with the removal process and use adhesive as well to remove any glue that was left behind to hold the door rubber in place. When installing the new rubber simply install it back onto the old frame making sure to use weatherstrip adhesive to hold it in place to create a more permanent bond. It’s also highly recommended that you have plenty of clips on hand to keep the rubber in place while the adhesive dries.