Profound revalations, and other hairbrained ideas... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Shorebilly · #1 11-21-2006, 06:07 AM

G'mornin',

I began a thread relating to Front Suspension Bushings, about a week or two ago.....

...in of the postings, someone mentioned that I should try dripping a little "Brake Fluid" onto my Stabilizer Bar Bushings...to make them swell up...until I get back from my Thanksgiving Trip, and have time to replace them.....

This got me to thinking (which sometimes can be dangerous).....

Has anyone tried this "Brake Fluid, swells up rubber" trick on window seals/gaskets?? If brake fluid softens and swells rubber, then a few drops (carefully, so as not to touch paint) along window gasket/glass joint should soften and swell that gasket....thus stopping the leak.....at least temporarilly.

Whatcha all think??

SB

t walgamuth · #2 11-21-2006, 06:21 AM

clean it out and caulk with silicone caulk. black. works like a charm and no side effects.

tom w

Shorebilly · #3 11-21-2006, 06:28 AM

Been thinking about "Goop" as well.....the black caulk sounds like a good idea......just seeking a simple temporary repair.....will have my rear window seal replaced sometime in the Spring....when weather warms up....

SB

barry123400 · #4 11-21-2006, 08:36 AM

I have tried other things than silicone to repair leaking seals/window gaskets. By and large to avoid getting silicone on things in case I ever want to repaint. They were not as successful as silicone. Since you intend to have the seal changed out in the near future you will probably get by. I think the difference might be that the silicone bonds to the rubber perhaps. Whatever the difference it does seem to last longer than non specilised alternative sealants. By the same token someone may have tried something out that was superior to silicone that I have not tried. I still would like to know of a good alternative to silicone myself.

Bill Ladd · #5 11-21-2006, 08:37 AM

Local mechanic buddy of mine told me he has always used Vaseline to treat old seals and whatnot.

He was shown this by an old-timer many moons ago.

He's been using it for years and swears by it.

tobybul · #6 11-21-2006, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorebilly

G'mornin',

I began a thread relating to Front Suspension Bushings, about a week or two ago.....

...in of the postings, someone mentioned that I should try dripping a little "Brake Fluid" onto my Stabilizer Bar Bushings...to make them swell up...until I get back from my Thanksgiving Trip, and have time to replace them.....

This got me to thinking (which sometimes can be dangerous).....

Has anyone tried this "Brake Fluid, swells up rubber" trick on window seals/gaskets?? If brake fluid softens and swells rubber, then a few drops (carefully, so as not to touch paint) along window gasket/glass joint should soften and swell that gasket....thus stopping the leak.....at least temporarilly.

Whatcha all think??

SB

Brake fluid may be the nastiest stuff you could use in my humble opinion. I think its one chemical best used only for its main purpose.

For best results on reviving the rubbers and vinyl around your car, I have had pretty good luck with petroleum jelly. Try applying it on your entire dash surface. Get a small cloth and apply a thin layer. The vinyl will look very nice and it stays on for a long time. It eventually gets absorbed into the vinyl and rubber. But the sheen on the vinyl remains. When you think about it, vinyl and rubber have petroleum components and the jelly just replenishes whats dried off over the years. I've also applied it on the MB Tex seats, all internal and external rubber trims and seals.

I agree with using black RTV silicone to help seal the windshield. I used it recently and it stopped the leak. Make sure the area where its seeping thru is toally dry and clean b4 applying the sealant.

Mismost · #7 11-21-2006, 05:30 PM

for the window seals just do what t walgamuth said...use black silicone between the gasket and the glass.

He left out the high tech tool he uses to clean all the crap outta the gasket (you'll be amazed at the junk you pull outta there!)...use a couple of plastic picnic knives! They won't scratch the glass and the sererated edges really help pull the crud out...lots of compressed air helps too. Just get it clean and dry. I taped off the glass with masking tape, makes clean up easier. Small squeeze tube of silicone is plenty for both the front and rear windows...just use the knives again to hold open a small gap between the gasket and the glass and sqeeze in a small bead of silicone. wipe off any excess, pull the tape and you're done.

You may not want to fool with replacing the gasket after the silicone job...it works!

OMEGAMAN · #8 11-21-2006, 06:22 PM

A friend at work (another mechanic) said to never used silicone to seal a window. I dont know the reason why but it seems he's never wrong so I took his advice and bought some proper sealant from Napa.

BTW I would like to hear how brake fluid works on window seals. I bet it would work just fine.

estod · #9 11-22-2006, 12:10 AM

I fixed a weatherstrip on the driver's door of the car I was driving years ago with a trick I read in Hot Rod. It whistled right next to my ear, and as I drove a lot, being a musician, it was quite irritating.

As best I remember the procedure:

Assemble --
black silicone automotive sealant (caulk)
kitchen plastic wrap
spray bottle with water in it

Clean the area you intend to repair, and remove shredded or torn weatherstrip (mine was missing a chunk about as big as a quarter).

Use enough silicone sealer to patch the offending area, and spread some on both sides of any hole.

Mist a piece of plastic wrap (esp the side that will face the silicone) with the water, lay it over the silicone area, and close the door. Let cure overnight or longer (warmish temps would help. I'm sure). Open the door and peel off the plastic wrap. This repair held for at least a couple of years as I continued to drive the car. Shutting the door insures that the blob of silicone conforms to the surfaces it needs to seal.

Replacing the weatherstrip is obviously a better, more elegant fix, but the silicone does the job if only a small place is bad.

vstech · #10 11-22-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OMEGAMAN

A friend at work (another mechanic) said to never used silicone to seal a window. I dont know the reason why but it seems he's never wrong so I took his advice and bought some proper sealant from Napa.

BTW I would like to hear how brake fluid works on window seals. I bet it would work just fine.

the reason is that silicone aromatics cause iron to rust REALLY bad. avoid using silicone that will come in contact with metal as it cures...
the black urethane adhesive that window installers use work well, but they remain sticky.
best to use an adhesive that will cure non tack and that is not silicone.
John

Mismost · #11 11-22-2006, 05:52 PM

I don't know about the vapors of silicone causing rust. i do know auto glass installers will hate your guts for using it because then they will have to cut back out. I also know it works really, really good and is a fast, cheap, longlasting fix. besides there are not that many auto glass installers on my Christmas card list!

PanzerSD · #12 11-22-2006, 09:33 PM

Well, since it was me that remarked using brake fluid, I would offer this disclaimer.

I would not use brake fluid on anything more than suspension bushings, and even then, it is a temporary fix..

PanzerSD · #13 11-22-2006, 09:34 PM

I'd also like to ask, because don't feel like reading ALL the posts...

did the brake fluid work for you??

Matt L · #14 11-22-2006, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got_The_Benz

I would not use brake fluid on anything more than suspension bushings, and even then, it is a temporary fix..

I didn't see this in the thread, but another one:

Do not allow brake fluid to come in contact with your paint! You will not be happy with the results.