Windshield gasket blues: Precision supplies Steele and possibly Soff Seal

[DeadheadNM]

The windshield gasket in my K10 installed this spring was leaking and had to be replaced. This install took two trips to the glass shop, two windshields, and two gaskets for use with new 71-72 trim. The installer said he never wanted to see my truck again.

On the recent attempt I went with new 70-under trim with the deeper channel and the correct Precision gasket all from a board vendor. My glass is FY.

After four hours at a different glass shop I’m now worse off. The seal is again bunched in the corners. The trim won’t rest in the channel near the upper corners. The glass guys think the 71-72 trim would be easier to work with and I will go with this on the next attempt.

Thinking the Precision gasket ($37) was part of the problem I contacted Steele Rubber Products ($73) and Soff Seal ($88). The Steele rep said Precision supplies their gaskets. The Soff Seal rep told me they do not manufacture windshield gaskets for 67-72 trucks but couldn’t (or wouldn’t) tell me their supplier or if these were US made like their other products. I assume the Soff Seal product is not US made and it may in fact be coming from Precision.

I suspect the reason these installs can be so problematic is a combination of thinner glass and repro trim/gaskets that don’t fit quite as well as OEM.