Rear hatch glass seal

My rear hatch glass on my 95 Caprice Wagon is leaking water when in car wash (direct spray only), so I'm sure it is also leaking some air, etc. The leak is on both lower corners of the glass, and the weather seal is mashed down really flat in that area on my car. Can I replace that seal? The glass is even kinda loose, because the gasket is so compressed. I know the tailgate was damaged and repaired, so I think the accident had something to do with the weather seal being flattened.

Any suggestions where to look for a seal? How hard is it to replace?

Thanks in advance!

(Btw, its not leaking water from the notorious other areas, so please be assured I looked there first )

Have you tryed realigning the glass to help it seal better?If the weather seal has hardened up,
can you apply some rubber seal softener or even try a generic piece from the "Soft Seal"
company?Dont even know if a new gasket is still available from GM!
Jim

I saw your post on ISSF and answered it there. Check in the parts for sale section here. The only adjustments are the body side of the hinges, and the latch. Adjusting the hinges would not change the alignment of the lower corners of the glass. If the seal is already flattened, adjusting the latch will probably not stop the leak. You can only compress the seal to a certain point. Your description is indicitive of the seal as the culprit.

I have a 96 RMW that I can steal it from. I'll look and see what its condition is. I just figured a new one would be the answer if it were cheap and available.

My RMW lived in WI, so the seal might not be fried too bad from the heat.

The service manual shows that you can move the latch, and that adjusts the tension on the rear glass..........anyone ever try this adjustment?

When the gasket is squashed, it would only put stress on the glass. I would rather replace the gasket, and get the benefit of the seal, without added stress on the glass.

I 100% agree. My hatch glass is actually loose tho. When I hit bumps, I can hear it squeek and rattle. I think its loose from the previous owner repairing the damaged tailgate.

Looking at the gate latch and the service manual, I just don't see an adjustment on that latch that would snug it up any........ Any of you guys understand the mechanics of that latch better than I do?

Thanks again for all the info and ideas!

I read that a different guy ran a fuel hose thru his gasket to puss it back up and make a better seal. Sounds interresting!

fuel hose is too tough use winshield washer hose, much more plyable/give to it.

sounds like a great idea. I'll have to find some and give it a try!

How about injecting some nonhardening silicone into the compressed areas of the gasket?
Jim

I'm afraid if I do that it could create hi spots.