In many older cars, the rubber door seals no longer function properly. Over time, these seals can pull away from the door frame, leaving gaps—especially in the corners.
This allows cold or hot air, water, and excessive noise to enter the vehicle, making the ride more uncomfortable and noisy. As a result, many older cars experience drafty and noisy rides because the seals are no longer sealing properly.
A common misconception is that the seals have come unglued from the door frame, which leads people to try gluing them back in place. However, this solution rarely works because the seals are not actually glued in the first place. Instead, they rely on pressure to stay in position.
As the rubber seals age, the material shrinks, and the older the seals, the more they shrink. As they shrink, they pull away from the door frame, typically starting at the corners.
No amount of glue will fix this issue, as the seals are now too small to fit properly. However, there is a simple, inexpensive, and permanent solution: you need to make the door seal larger. This fix is much easier than it might seem.
Step 1: Find the Seam Where the Seal Is Joined
The first step in fixing the issue is to locate the seam where the door seal is joined. This seam is usually found beneath the plastic sill that protects the bottom of the door frame.
Pry up or remove the sill to gain access. If the sill is screwed down, simply unscrew it. Most sills are held in place with plastic connectors that fit into holes in the floor, which can be easily pulled out.
Once the sill is removed, you will be able to see the place where the seal is joined. This area may look like it has been glued or fused together. This is the ideal place to cut the seal.
Many seals contain a metal component to give them rigidity, so cutting them can be challenging. However, the seam typically doesn’t contain metal, making it easier to cut through with a razor knife or heavy-duty scissors.
After cutting the seal, you can push it back into place in the door frame, starting with the corners where it should be fitted. It may be easiest to pull off a section and then start at the top, working your way down to where you made the cut. At this point, you will be able to assess how much the seal has shrunk.
Step 2: Add an Extra Piece
Next, you will need an extra piece of door seal material—around a foot should be sufficient. You can find this from a junkyard, another car, or even purchase new seals, though they can be expensive. For example, I used a piece from a minivan I keep as a parts car.
Ideally, you should use a piece of seal that closely matches your car, but if that’s not possible, try to find one that is a close match.
Door seals can be tough to cut because of the metal reinforcement, but a pair of tin snips should work well. Heavy-duty scissors can also be used, but a regular knife will only cut the rubber. You could use a hacksaw, though it requires more effort.
Once you have the seal material, measure and cut the piece to fit the gap. Be sure to make the piece about half an inch larger than the gap, so when you insert it, it will press against the existing seal, helping it stay in place.
Insert the cut piece into the gap and press it down with your hand. It should fit easily without requiring much force. No glue is necessary, as the pressure from the new seal and the sill cover will hold it in place.
Step 3: Reassemble and Seal the Rest of the Doors
Once the filler piece is in place, reattach the plastic sill cover. A simple press with your palm should be enough to snap it back into place.
That’s it! Your door seal is now tight and will stay in place for years to come—until it shrinks again. If that happens, simply add a larger filler piece.
Why don’t car manufacturers design seals that allow for easy addition of spacers? It would be a great way for them to sell DIY spacers that customers could use to seal their doors.
But, wait—if people were able to keep their cars longer by making simple fixes like this, they might not buy new cars as often. Never mind.
You can use this same process for all the doors of your car. If one seal has shrunk, it’s likely that the others have as well.