97+ Door Seal Issues

[Minuit]

So, my 97+ door seals finally arrived today. I go out to install them, and when I'm done (taking care to push them in as far as they'll go, with a hammer for extra persuasion) the door refuses to close:

 

 

They really don't seem to be fitting too well on the curved parts of the door jamb. It seems like they should be able to slide over the seam a little bit more, but no amount of persuasion will make them go.

 

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Any suggestions on what I should do? I spent a pretty penny on these things, so I'm not giving up just yet. I know a couple people on here have installed the 97+ seals, did you guys have to go through this too?

[Strokermjcomanche]

The seals are new and need compressed . Make sure that all of the interior trim is not in the way of the new seals and try to get the seals to fit tighter in the areas you have pictured . It also helps to roll the windows down before you attempt to close the doors .

[Minuit]

I did get it to close once, with the window all the way down. Had to pull it closed extremely hard from inside. When I opened it again the door sprang back almost to the stops. Is that just what I need to do to close the doors for a while? I don't care to treat my truck that way.

 

Nothing I'm doing seems to make the seal fit tighter around the curved spots.

[relyt120]

I'm just throwing this out there but maybe a little heat gun action to the areas that are not fitting right?

 

Mine where used and only had a bit of resistance to closing at first, a simple slam for the first couple weeks solved that.

[HOrnbrod]

The door seals TC sells are reproductions from "overseas", not OEM and as such are probably not quite right. Like relyt120, I grabbed some used seals and while tight at first, fit great after a week or so. Good luck.

[Gjeep]

Make sure your exterior sheet metal lines up. Door to b-pillar and door to fender. My passenger door was not lined up and I noticed it with the new seals. If you loosen the hinge bolts at the door you can make an adjustment/ line the panels up. Once I did this my passenger door closed properly.

[Minuit]

I'm just throwing this out there but maybe a little heat gun action to the areas that are not fitting right?

 

Mine where used and only had a bit of resistance to closing at first, a simple slam for the first couple weeks solved that.

 

I might try that if they don't improve after a while. They do seem to be softening up a little bit. The doors actually close now, so that's an improvement.

 

The door seals TC sells are reproductions from "overseas", not OEM and as such are probably not quite right. Like relyt120, I grabbed some used seals and while tight at first, fit great after a week or so. Good luck.

 

Quality's not horrible but I probably would be better off with Mopar ones. I wasn't going to pay $148 per side at the stealership. Probably should've tried a junkyard set.

 

Make sure your exterior sheet metal lines up. Door to b-pillar and door to fender. My passenger door was not lined up and I noticed it with the new seals. If you loosen the hinge bolts at the door you can make an adjustment/ line the panels up. Once I did this my passenger door closed properly.

 

Didn't think about that. The doors line up pretty good but not 100% perfect. Like I said, will give it a few more slams and see what happens.