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Date:         Mon, 17 Jul 2000 08:50:55 -0700
Reply-To:     Jeanne Maly <traveller57@cableone.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeanne Maly <traveller57@cableone.net>
Subject:      Re: Luggage rack seal...
Comments: To: Daniel Schmitz <djs@gene.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Busboys says that the luggage rack has to be "adjusted". I haven't a clue, however, what that means. I told him to call my mechanic and explain it to him. My van's been in the body shopping recovering from deer-itis so I haven't had any opportunity to test the "adjusted" luggage rack at freeway speed.

Maybe somebody on the list could enlighten us all.

Jeanne '87 Syncro Westy

----- Original Message ----- From: Daniel Schmitz <djs@gene.com> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2000 11:35 PM Subject: Re: Luggage rack seal...

> Jeff, > > I've gotta say, you are correct :) > > The luggage rack appears to be designed to drain water from the rear corners, > where there is an opening on each side for this. There should be no gap along the > sides or front, only at the rear corners, I believe. At high speed, air gets in > to the space under the rack and the noise is greatly amplified by the fiberglass > structure. > > I still have my old seal, and it is indeed thicker in cross section. I can't > reuse it, because the original steel clip embedded in it is completely > disintegrated. > > This is why I am thinking of ordering the new seal with the bulb, which would > eliminate any opening between the roof and rack. But, as you well know, the > luggage rack can be a PITA to position. I may try simply removing the side and > front bolts and only loosening the rear nuts so I can tilt the rack up, position > a couple of blocks of wood under the edge, and remove/replace the seal with the > rack in place. This would be easier than taking it all the way off. The new seals > seem to go on very easily. > > The only alternative I can see with the bulbless seal is to attempt to reposition > the rack to eliminate all gaps, but that is a difficult proposition. > > Good luck with yours, I'll keep you informed about mine. > > Dan > > > > Jeffrey R wrote: > > > In a message dated 7/16/2000 6:56:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time, > > marcperdue@adelphia.net writes: > > > > << > My luggage rack is positioned as it came from the factory, with all > > > fasteners fastened. It's apparent that the new seal allows air to get > > > into the space below the rack, causing a racket at speed. There is a > > > tiny 1/32 gap in a spot along the front, and this must be what's causing > > > it. >> > > > > I've gotta say my luggage rack seal from the bus depot doesn't seal the way > > the factory seal sealed either. I was blaming it on the idea that my luggage > > rack warped, but maybe the stock seal is just thicker. I've got a 1/4 gap > > where the seal meets the passenger side a-pillar. Possibly the original seal > > would fill such a gap in that if it is thicker it would pull the driver's > > side over a bit and use the remaining bit to close the gap. > > > > And this idea that the seal has to leak I think is sales BS as in "Yes Mrs. > > Jones all gas tanks are supposed to leak a little bit." Because in my > > estimation the water is meant to leak out the back where the rack is clearly > > designed to be wider and not seal against the roof. I mean it's only about a > > sixteenth of an inch wider but that's all it should take. I'm not willing to > > concede that these things came from the factory with a gap in the front. And > > I'm also not willing to concede a gap is desired, necessary, or even ok. > > > > I wish I kept the original seal to compair it, but of course I tossed it when > > I took it off. Does anyone know if the OEM seal is indeed thicker? > > > > I've gotta say if I had it all to do over again I'd get all the facts up > > front about the original vs. aftermarket seals. And if it was "better" I'd go > > with the OEM seal no matter the cost. I mean yes, the original seal is > > flawed, but it did last more than 15 years. And no one is doing me a favor > > selling me a less expensive seal that is "almost" as good at sealing as the > > stock seal. I've gotta say pulling that F#@@%%$ luggage rack on and off a > > dozen time was a huge PITA--and it's still not **#@! sealing right! > > > > That's my 2 cents > > Jeff > > 83.5 Westy


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