Rear hatch weatherstripping

[east302]

I just bought a 98 two door with the tailgate and it's leaking along the top of the lift glass.

The weatherstripping looks great but the top piece attached to the truck had the flap pushed inside the lift glass. I pulled it out so the lip now rests on top of the glass. Is this how it is supposed to be?

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[east302]

So I've replaced all of the weatherstripping and found the leak source.

It is coming down from the roof over the top of this piece on the tailgate...

When the glass is shut, you can see a gap between the bottom of the lift glass and this rubber gasket. Same for both sides...

If this rubber piece were taller, it would seat against the metal on the lift gate when closed. Am I missing any weatherstripping on the lift gate?

There doesn't seem to be any play in the hinges, but the body lines look a little uneven, especially on the right which is where the gap between the gasket and liftgate is greatest.

When closed, the glass is about 1/4" out from being flush with the pillar...

Any suggestions? Am I missing weatherstripping on the bottom of the liftgate?




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[mtl111]

I would check to see if the hinges and/or latch can be adjusted to get the glass flush with the body. I don't know how long you've had this truck but maybe the rear glass was replaced at some point and not properly adjusted. Good luck!

 

[east302]

You may be on to something. I monkeyed around with the hinges today and made it worse...so maybe that's progress if I can make it go the other way. It looks to be a trial and error sort of thing.


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[east302]

Well, no dice on adjusting the hinges. I couldn't find a position that solved the clearance issue between the top edge of the tailgate insulator and bottom of the liftgate. It looks to be partially a tailgate alignment issue. If the right (passenger) side could come up a little, it could seal the gap. But, the tailgate hinges don't have any obvious play in them. The bushings don't seem to be hollowed out like you see on the front doors of these trucks. In addition, if the lift glass could close "in" more, it would tighten the seal against the bubble gasket.

I'm about to break down and just take it to a dealer...just hate the thought of them throwing parts at it.

 

[east302]

Just to update, I took it to a body shop who couldn't figure out the problem.

I did find a post on fullsizechevy.com from several years ago where the poster had the identical issue with no resolution. I borrowed his photos as they clearly show the issue that I'm having. He had removed the exterior black plastic pieces above the tail light to better show the gap at the tailgate...

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[PG01]

Does the latch for the window adjust, almost looks like the window needs to be pushed in more? Almost like when your door doesnt close all the way and u need to push it to the 'second' click, so to speak.....maybe that'll stop the water???.....just ideas

 

[east302]

Hey, thanks for the suggestion.

The window hinges are bolted to the upper body and to the glass frame. I removed the liftglass hinge pins and liftglass, repositioned the hinges in several ways and it did nothing. The liftglass striker has some adjustment, but it depends on the tailgate latch for how far in or out it goes when latches. I adjusted it and the tailgate latch in all possible configurations and it didn't help. I just don't get it, and this seems like something that should be simple.

But, yes, if the liftglass could go in more then it may close the gap some. I just don't see anything obviously wrong with the latches or the hinges...it's frustrating to say the least.


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[Kenny D]

Might not be the correct way to fix it but if you have no other option, I would get some weatherstrip and add a strip along the edge of the liftgate. You may have to push a little harder to get it closed but it would seal.

 

[mtl111]

This is definitely an adjustment issue and/or some worn out parts in the latch itself. That glass should be flush with the rear trim. I know you've done all kinds of adjusting on it but that has to be the issue. I found these old threads which I'm sure you've already seen...but here they are.

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/for-guys-running-the-tailgates.18718/

http://www.gmtruckclub.com/forum/threads/rear-glass-wont-lock-in-when-closed.134645/


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[east302]

Might not be the correct way to fix it but if you have no other option, I would get some weatherstrip and add a strip along the edge of the liftgate. You may have to push a little harder to get it closed but it would seal.

Yeah, I've added pieces of weatherstripping to try to seal it and it still finds a path. I have the tailgate gasket raised by goobering RTV under it to bring it up and close the gap, but it looks like crap.


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[east302]

This is definitely an adjustment issue and/or some worn out parts in the latch itself. That glass should be flush with the rear trim. I know you've done all kinds of adjusting on it but that has to be the issue. I found these old threads which I'm sure you've already seen...but here they are.

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/for-guys-running-the-tailgates.18718/

http://www.gmtruckclub.com/forum/threads/rear-glass-wont-lock-in-when-closed.134645/


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Thanks for the links. In that second one, the poster said that the tailgate had sagged, causing the liftglass hatch to be too high.

That's something to look into, will take a look at it and see how it hits.

The driver side glass edge is flush (and there is no gap with the tailgate gasket) but the passenger side sticks out about 1/4" and has the gasket gap.

You're right...it has to be an alignment issue. I'm going to loosen all liftglass hinge bolts, rest the glass closed and have someone push it down and into place--and hopefully close the gap--while tightening the hinge bolts.

Maybe that'll work...


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[G_Unit MVP]

I just bought a 98 two door with the tailgate and it's leaking along the top of the lift glass.

The weatherstripping looks great but the top piece attached to the truck had the flap pushed inside the lift glass. I pulled it out so the lip now rests on top of the glass. Is this how it is supposed to be?

View attachment 175018




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Hi, sorry for the rebump, I bought a 95 Tahoe and I'm replacing the rear weatherstripping.

Bought the 3 rear seals from LMC, but the I cant install the top one the way you have it installed on the picture. It's like the glass hatch is too far away from the roof. Do you need to glue the lip to the glass? What am I missing?

Thanks for the help.

 

[east302]

It was a colossal pain in the ass to get it that way. I didn’t glue it or anything, it pushes onto the weld lip thing and the top flap naturally rests flat.

With the hatch open, I took a screwdriver and pushed the top flap up through the opening, inch by inch, to get it to rest on top of the glass. It tore in some places.

It would be easier to remove the liftglass, but then you’d have to have someone hold the flap up, align the hinges and get it into position without the flap coming down.

I don’t know how they did it in Detroit on the assembly line, but there has to be an easier way to accomplish this.

Or, maybe the flap isn’t supposed to go on top after all. The GM manual doesn’t say.


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[G_Unit MVP]

Thanks for the reply. I will try to put it that way and leave it for a couple of days without moving the liftglass to see if it works.

 

[G_Unit MVP]

I think something is wrong with my hatch, cause the weatherstrip doesn't even reach the glass. The gap between the top of the glass and the roof is too big. I don't know if there is a way to adjust that...

 

[east302]

I think something is wrong with my hatch, cause the weatherstrip doesn't even reach the glass. The gap between the top of the glass and the roof is too big. I don't know if there is a way to adjust that...

It is somewhat adjustable. Going by memory here so I may have this backward, but the hinge bolts on the body side can be loosened and the whole thing pushed in a little. There is a plate that the bolts go into. It isn’t captive, but can be repositioned if you can get your hands up in there.

It’s really a two person job, and removing the support struts may give it more leeway. I would try closing it and having someone outside pushing in at the top. Then someone inside the cargo area tightening the nuts down.

Is it leaking?

I never did get mine right. Ended up rigging the weatherstrip on the top of the tailgate to make it work.


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[G_Unit MVP]

Yes, every time it rains, the cargo area is soak in water. I replaced the main weatherstrip, maybe that stops the water problem, but I don't like that huge gap. It collects all kind of garbage from dust to tree leaves, and after a while is a mess.

 

[east302]

The trick then is to see where it’s leaking. A water hose on the roof and a flashlight should make it easy to spot from inside.

Some have had issues with water through the roof rack mounting holes, some through the side glass seal.


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[Kyle Fuller]

I just bought a 98 two door with the tailgate and it's leaking along the top of the lift glass.

The weatherstripping looks great but the top piece attached to the truck had the flap pushed inside the lift glass. I pulled it out so the lip now rests on top of the glass. Is this how it is supposed to be?

View attachment 175018



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My man, east302!!!! I got a 96 green tahoe sport similar to yours and I'm having the same kinda issue. That piece of weather strip that you pulled and placed over top of the back glass, did you ever figure out for sure if it goes over the glass or not? Cause I thought the same thing, there's a huge gap from the roof to the back glass and mine is leaking at the top and collecting in the roof corners.

I taped up (one at a time) my roof rack holes and my side window seals and performed water tests to see if it leaked and they both passed. Neither one leaked! Then ran water off roof onto back glass and it leaks like crazy. I have purchased a new weather strip specifically for the 96 tahoe rear and plan on using weather strip adhesive to help seal. And I'm sure that's going to help but I'm still lost as to what to do about the top gap I mentioned?? Please help... and I'm willing to purchase new top weather strip gap piece too but don't know exactly what to call it and can't find anywhere! Thanks for any help!