Date:         Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:33:10 -0400
Reply-To:     John Graham <theklube@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Graham <theklube@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: installing new luggage rack seals
Comments: To: Joy Hecht <jhecht@alum.mit.edu>
In-Reply-To:  <5c1si1$8e8r50@smtp01.lnh.mail.rcn.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Joy,

I followed a procedure similar to what Chris recommended several years ago
and the only thing that I can add is that to make sure I had the luggage
rack firmly settled down where it should be when I rescrewed it to the
supports, I had my wife sit in the luggage rack.  She's a 'normal' sized
lady and hey, maybe I could have sat up there and put the screws in myself
(oh that didn't sound right), but I didn't.

In spite of having weight in the rack when it was reattached, the first time
I had the van out on the highway I got this tremendous vibration at 50mph
from the edge of the top rattling against the roof.  I tried reseating the
rack, but ended up running a line of black electrical tape around the front
edge of the seal.  That worked.  And by the time the tape started to peal
6-9 months later, I guess enough crud had filtered down through the drain
holes which I didn't fill that I don't have the rattle any more.  As I
recall, I used seals from BD and I think the rattle I encountered was the
installer's problem.

Good Luck, it's an easy repair - YMMV

John Graham
88 Westy
Charlotte NC