Deteriorating rubber seal/gasket on headlamp?

[particlewave]

Find a cheap used set of headlights on eBay with good gaskets, swap the good gaskets with yours, then re-sell the headlights. If you do it right, your final cost for good used gaskets will be free-$50.

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Find a cheap used set of headlights on eBay with good gaskets, swap the good gaskets with yours, then re-sell the headlights. If you do it right, your final cost for good used gaskets will be free-$50.

Yeah, this is a crapshoot though, as you can't really tell from eBay photos if the whole seal is not deteriorating. My seal below in pics...you can't really tell where the seal is mushy cause it's still all intact, for example. Also, most of those headlights are just as old or older than mine, so they're bound to turn to mush too probably. There's got to be a cheaper solution to this problem. I'm thinking even if there was a product like a rubber O-ring (but not formed as an O) would work, as it is rounded and rubber which looks like the factory seal.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

Yeah, this is a crapshoot though, as you can't really tell from eBay photos if the whole seal is not deteriorating. My seal below in pics...you can't really tell where the seal is mushy cause it's still all intact, for example. Also, most of those headlights are just as old or older than mine, so they're bound to turn to mush too probably.

Just ask the seller for more photos and a close inspection. I've done it a dozen times for both myself and other forum members
It's not age that kills them, it's how you take care of them. Mine look and feel brand new, but they're not. I've seen literally hundreds of these headlights and I think the 2 biggest killers are sun exposure and car wax (cars with yellowed headlights from UV exposure always have the worst seals).

A set I worked on had non-OEM rubber seals that were a very good fit and close to original, but the owner didn't know where they came from. So, there is a better solution than foam rubber tape out there, but it may take some searching.