I Want a more quiet car, replace WEATHERSTRIP SEAL?

LOB · Post by **LOB** » 20 Oct 2017, 12:50

I suppose there is somewhat more wind noise inside my 850 now compared to in 1997. Do you think replacing the inner weather strip would make the ride less noisy?
The Volvo OEM weather striping (inner ) is out of stock everywhere (?) and it's not manufactured anymore. My striping is not torn and looks OK but I guess it's much more compressed now than 21 years ago. Would replacing with universal weather striping be any good? Anyone who has tried? Does anyone know the thickness of the striping as new?

Looking at this product (15 mm in height):
Car Door Seal Strip Big D Small D Z P Type Waterproof Trim Sound Insulation Soundproof Weatherstrip EPDM auto rubber seal Strips
http://s.aliexpress.com/IZr2mYRZ
(from AliExpress Android)

Post by **June** » 20 Oct 2017, 13:58

Did you try to soften it with silicone spray or silicone grease? I use silicone grease on my weatherstripping about once a year to keep it soft. I buy it in a big tube from Napa as silicone grease in a toothpaste sized white tube with blue and yellow marketing. This reminds me it's time to buy another tube. June

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 20 Oct 2017, 15:17

If it keeps wind and water out, it's keeping noise out.
The LAST thing I would do is attempt to replace quality
custom fit factory Volvo parts with a low budget "universal"
product. The OEM is designed specifically for your car.

IMHO, Replacing functional OEM weather stripping
would only introduce a lot of noise and look awful.

Instead, I'd consider Dynamat or a similar resonant
noise dampening product and/or different tires,
based on what kind of noise you're bothered by.

LOB · Post by **LOB** » 20 Oct 2017, 15:43

Yes you might be right there BEJinFbk.... A universal seal won't fit like the OEM at the bends and where the two ends meet but on the other hand it will be a tighter fit with the door and I was thinking that some of the wind noise might be reduced. There ain't no noise such as from a big leak coming from a crack but just a summing noise driving at 70 mph that ain't there on a modern car. The best would be to find a original seal but I haven't seen these for sale anywhere. And I guess the OEMs are very expensive if I do find some NOS. Speaking of NOS, you have too have a look here:
https://www.volvoonderdelen.net/webshop

This shop actually sells the outer (door) sealing but I guess it's the inner sealing that might be compressed and has deteriorated.
Not very expensive shipping from the Netherlands to the US either...

BEJinFbk: I'll try to find some silicon grease. I've tried cleaning the rubber sealing with silicon spray. Don't know if it helped.

Post by **JimBee** » 20 Oct 2017, 21:46

I hear an annoying whoosh coming from a couple of seals, one on the drivers side door, about eye level, the other seems to be coming from the rear passenger side door.

I haven't explored this possible fix, but I wonder if forcing a piece of string or yarn behind the strip where it meets the door's sheet metal might be helpful.