How to Find Replacement Rubber Car Parts When They Are Out Of Production
Are you trying to restore or repair an older car or truck and finding it difficult to locate some replacement parts? This is not unusual as vehicle manufacturers move on from one model to the next and may not pay as much attention to those out-of-date vehicles. In this situation, you may have a particular problem with some of those damaged rubber parts and wonder how you can put everything back together correctly. What should you do if you cannot find any of the originals?
Replacement Rubber Parts
Many people do not realise just how many rubber components there may be on a standard vehicle. They can be used to cut down on vibration or help mount an engine, gearbox and transmission to the chassis. You will find rubber seals around all the doors and windows and as time goes by, they may tend to perish and degrade.
When these rubber products were originally installed, they were carefully designed and produced for that specific job. Consequently, you will find it very difficult to find anything "off-the-shelf" in this situation.
Custom-Made Replacements
The good news is that you can get some parts custom-made in the correct dimension, with the appropriate weight, durability, material and colour. In this case, you won't need to apply any guesswork or attempt to shoehorn a project into a particular enclosure. And you can usually order these parts in very low quantities, so you do not have to worry about a bulk order with the associated cost.
Reverse Engineering and Compression Moulding
In this situation, an engineer may choose a compression moulding process which is the best approach for something that has low volume and is not too intricate. They may also be able to reverse engineer the new product based on the old, discontinued piece of rubber. This could be particularly advantageous when it comes to the rubber that surrounds any doors and windows, as there will be no margin for error when you try to achieve such a tight and waterproof fit. So you get a virtually identical part with all the properties you need for your restoration project.
Place the Order
Get in touch with an engineering company that offers custom rubber parts. They can typically help you with all the individual missing parts, whether you have the original or simply provide them with the appropriate dimensions. They will answer any questions you have and help you get started.
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