Windshield & window seals for Audi 80

Three seals, three roles

• The window seal, both external and internal, is the flexible strip fitted at the top of the door panel, on either side of the window. It wipes the window as it is lowered and prevents water and dust from entering the door cavity. It is the most exposed part and the one most frequently replaced.
• The guide seal, or slideseal, fits into the vertical rail along which the window pane slides. It guides the window pane, prevents it from vibrating and cushions its movement. When worn, it causes the window pane to run crookedly and squeak.
• The sealing frame, or pillar seal, surrounds a fixed window pane. It ensures a watertight seal and holds the pane in place; replacing it requires the pane to be removed.

Three different parts, three different symptoms: knowing which one is the problem prevents you from ordering the wrong part.

Identify the symptom

• Water in the door panel, or a damp mark on the trim: the outer window seal is no longer sealing properly. This is the most common issue and the easiest to resolve.
• The window squeaks or rises unevenly, sometimes with a jolt at the end of its travel: the guide seal has hardened or come away from its rail.
• A whistling noise at a steady speed that stops when you press down on the window: the seal is no longer sealing at the top of its travel.
• A fixed window that lets in water or moves within its frame: the rear quarter panel weatherstrip needs replacing.
• Rubber that is hardened, cracked or shiny to the touch, and does not spring back into shape: whichever seal it is, it has reached the end of its useful life.

Before ordering, also check the drainage holes at the bottom of the door: if blocked, they cause the water level in the sash to rise and produce the same marks as a faulty window wiper.

By the metre or as a moulded part

Two ways to buy, which do not yield the same result. The pre-formed piece, designed specifically for installation, comes complete with its corners, clips or retaining strip, and finished ends. It is fitted to match the original, and this is the choice for a faithful restoration.

The universal profile, sold by the metre and cut to size, is a stopgap solution when the dedicated part is no longer available, which is often the case with rare fittings. You must then select the profile by carefully noting the dimensions: the width of the groove that clips onto the sheet metal, the height of the lip, and whether or not it has a flocked finish. A lip that is too long will restrict the window’s movement and put strain on the window regulator, whilst a groove that is too wide will not hold the window in place.

Fit it the right way round

A window seal has a lip, and this lip has a specific orientation. When fitted facing outwards, it directs water away from the window and drains it downwards. If fitted the wrong way round, it channels water into the window frame, and replacing it will actually make the problem it was meant to solve worse.

When fitting, clean the metal panel and check that it hasn’t been warped by previous removals: a new seal on a corrugated panel will gape in places. Work from one end to the other without stretching the seal, otherwise it will shrink afterwards and leave a gap at the corner. A little soapy water makes it easier to fit the seal. Finally, slide the window pane up and down several times before refitting the seal, to check that it does not catch anywhere.