boot lid rubber

[NES304]

I started putting the rubber in the channel for the boot lid and now the lid sits up FAR too high to even close. I have not glued it yet so I can still remove it. Any ideas ?

[Glenn 'Stinky' Stankevicius]

You might have done some of this already, but try
1. Remove the rubber
2. Align boot lid  and striker then tighten
3. Reinstall boot rubber
4. Get some Rubber Magic on the rubber

Other stuff
Is the channel for the rubber completely clear of junk?
Is the rubber in the right way?
Is the rubber fully in the channel?

[smithy]

hey nes, are you using the rare spares rubber?
i had the same problem with mine, the boot would only just close. but still sat up way too high.
i ended up using the scotts auto rubbers boot seal which is a completely different profile. about half the thickness of the rares one.
but as stinky suggested the rubber magic should help to soften the rubber once its installed, another product which i am using is the autoglym rubber restore.
but definately check if the rubber is around the right way first.
if you can get the boot closed i would reccomend leaving the boot closed for a couple of days then try to re-align the boot and striker, over a period of time the boot should come down a bit.

[NES304]

yeah its the rares rubber.....
i'll try again

[TAYZ]

Mate of mine had the same problem with his boot rubber from rares, he ended up putting the old one back in.  He is going to give me the one from rares but not sure if I will use it yet

                                                                tayz

[craiga]

From my experience the Rares rubbers are a little too large in height. I now have a NOS rubber fitted but its still not as good a fit as you would expect.

As the guys say, make sure the channel is really clean. Best advice I have heard is too make it so the boot has to be slammed shut. Leave it closed for as long as possible, this will give the rubber the right memory.

Interestingly I recently put a new boot rubber on my XU1, same thing, either the profile is slightly larger or the rubber isn't as pliable as the original.

Cheers,

Craig.

[smithy]

funny thing is when i compared the boot rubber to the door rubbers they looked indentical    same profile just no bends.


or was it just mine?

[NES304]

I'll have a look

[mcl1959]

I think that the problem lies not with the shape of the rubber but the density of it.  The original boot rubber tends to flatten easier than a repro rubber and I think this is what causes the problem.  I have had sucess trimming the back of the rubber so that it sits flatter in the channel and also boot lid adjustment is critical for correct fit of the rubber. Boot lid adjustment is not as easy as you would think as it involves height setting as well as forward-backwards and left-right movement.

Ken

[NES304]

will the rubber magic help to flatten?

[craiga]

Rubber magic is just a silicon like lubricant. The rubber slips into position easier.

[4hammers]

Hi,
There is also that 3M product, that you spray onto the rubbers & it kind of softens them right up. Then, you close the boot (or Door, or whatever else) & while the rubber resets, it takes the required shape.
I recommended it to a mate who had trouble with NOS door rubbers in his Kombi & it has worked like a treat. He had the rubbers in for over 12 months & still had issues. He then used the spray & now all is perfect. Expensive stuff, but seriously worth it.

Rob J