Door gaskets for Chevy Express

[LookinUp]

My 2012 Chevy Express 1500 cargo van's door gaskets/weatherstripping are letting in a ton of dust both side and rear. I just called a dealership (always fun) to get a price on the parts only.....over 750.00, not incl. labor. Needless to say I can't afford that. I've googled a bit-thinking I could buy the parts and either install myself of have a body shop do it- and see some but not for mine specific model....Anyone dealt with this issue. I drive lots of backroads and the dust coming in coats the entire back area, and I just pulled up some temporary carpet near the side door and I could have grown grass in the amount of dirt there....any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, especially if you've dealt with the issue. Thanks so much!

 

[sometimesido]

see if this is the correct part for side door:

https://www.gmpartsgiant.com/parts/...-side-front,,bdabc99def48ad084dcd9b793a89935c

 

[sometimesido]

rear door:

https://www.gmpartsgiant.com/parts/...rdware-rear,,2b155d3166196e415d12552731292bd3

found a site with diagram:

https://www.gmpartsonline.net/auto-...-engine/body-cat/exterior-trim-back-door-scat

so looking at the diagram, looks like there's a weather seal for the body side, and then seal for the door side.

 

[Almost There]

Before you go replacing gaskets make sure that the doors are properly adjusted.

If people have been slamming the doors shut for any length of time - because it's a van after all... , the door latch plates on both the top and bottom may have shifted a bit. They are held in place with bolts and if they're not super tight the latch plates move.

I was having trouble with heavy rains entering at the tops of the doors and my dear son (body repair experience, gotta love it) showed me where you could see where the plates had shifted over time. Minor adjustments of 1/16" of an inch at a time took care of all of the leaks except one where he showed me where the weatherstripping was different. His advice was to plump it up a little with some regular door weatherstripping so I put it on his 'to-do' list....

Mine is a 2002 and the gaskets themselves are in great shape so I'm not sure how a 2012 would need new gaskets unless someone tore them somehow.

 

[highdesertranger]

Almost There hit the nail on the head. I find it hard to believe your gaskets are worn out already. I would say more than likely the doors are out of adjustment. as a side note Simple Green does wonders for rubber seals. it restores the sponginess and pliability to the rubber. I use it all the time on old rubber that has become stiff this is an old car restorers trick. highdesertranger

 

[LookinUp]

Thanks so much, everyone. Almost There, I will definitely look into having the doors checked for alignment, makes sense. Also, highdesertranger, I really like the Simple Green idea, I use it for everything. Can't wait to try it on the gaskets.

 

[highdesertranger]

clean the gaskets with pure Simple Green, do not dilute. try to leave the doors open for several hours afterwards so the Simple Green can soak into the rubber. rinse with straight water in the end. you might need to do this several times if your gaskets are real old and hard. if I can I will remove the piece of rubber put it in a jar of straight Simple Green. with enough to cover it and a little more. shake it several times a day. leave it in the Simple Green for several days adding more as necessary. you will be amazed at how well this works on an old dried out piece of rubber. highdesertranger