Bernaum

[Don Jordan]

I always go out and buy something and as soon as I do there is a flood of mail saying I should have gone somewhere else.

I need to get all the rubber for windows, fenderwelts, window channeling, all that stuff. I found on line that Andy Bernbaum has it all. I don't remember if I've heard anything negative about them.

Any comments before I buy rather than after? I've looked at the Steele catalog but they don't have much MoPar stuff.

I would appreciate any information/leads/comments.

Thanks

[grey beard]

Don,

We're all in the same boat here, regarding rubber parts. We all need the stuff, and it's no secret that $1000 will likely get used up if you rreplace every piece of rubber and do a complete job. As I write this I'm debating whether or not to replace my own B1B glass seals or leave them alone. If you have rust underneath the seals, the choice gets easier, but mine are not rusty - just badly split in spots, especially the corner windows.

General consensus is that Steele is best - they have nearly all the pieces you might need, but their catalog is not too user friendly. If you call them, they're helpful. Probably best quality, but - you gessed it- most expensive of all. Clesters has some pieces. Bernbaum and Roberts are priced almost identically, and their qality is good on some, less ogod on other parts. If I might offer a suggestion, before you order from anyone, ask how they feel about accepting returns, if the quality of their goods doesn't suit you. It's nice to have options when you're ordering things you've never seen before. JMHO:)

[RobertKB]

I used Steele almost exclusively for all the rubber for my '38 Chrylser and was satisfied for the most part. A couple of pieces were not quite right but with some tweaking worked fine. Certainly the best quality. I would highly recommend them even though they are more expensive.

[james curl]

You might try Soft Seal also, they have a catalogue with lots of rubber seals, a little hard to read.

[Lou Earle]

I buy a lot from berinie - his prices are to me very competitive and he has lots of stuff not in his catalog.

However his rubber products are no the quality of Steele products. I would not order rubber from him again if I could avoid it.

Lou

[David Mac]

Don:

Try restoration Specialties for the window channels and sweeps. http://www.restorationspecialties.com/catalog.htm

I too vote for Steele for Window rubber.

Good Luck,

David Mac

[greg g]

Geeze I have some Burnbaum Rear and Front rubber window seal in a box in the garage. Reason its there is cause it's wrong, and the gallant vendor wouldn't accept a return, As it was apparent my glass guy with about 40 years experience didn't know what he was doing. Funny, when the Steele stuff came, the glass went right in without a problem, and lo and behold stayed where it was supposed to within the window frame. Go figure!!!!

[Captain Neon]

I concur that Steele Rubber Products are the best quality on the market. Andy Bernbaum can be a difficult guy to deal with, esp. when you have problems or questions. I used to think it was just because he was a New Englander, but I've been proven that most New Englanders are good folk after a trip to Boston a few years go.

[Guest 57plymouth]

I have had excellent results with a company called Clester's. I bought the trunk and all four door weatherstrips for under $75. They have a website, I don't know the address, but I'm sure Google will find it.

I would rather soak my head in battery acid than ever by from Bernbum again.

[Norm's Coupe]

I ordered vent wing seals, fuel filler tube gasket, cowl vent gasket and motor mounts from Andy B. Never got around to using the cowl vent gasket, just had to adjust the linkage a little so it shut good, so that gasket is still in the wrapper. The motor mounts worked ok.

Vent Wing Rubber: It did fit for me when I installed it. That was about 1999. Now the right side wants to turn in a little when you close the wing. Guess it must have shrunk a little. So it didn't last very long.

Fuel Filler gasket: It looked like seconds when I got it. Used it anyway but now it's cracking. That was also installed about 1999, so it didn't last very long either. It started cracking about 2 years ago.

I've also ordered rubber parts from Steele Rubber. Those parts are a lot more pliable and easier to install. Look better too. Ordered center bar rubber, body mount washers and brake and clutch pedal gaskets from Steele.

For my money, I'll buy from Steele when I need rubber parts. May cost a little more but the quality is a lot better, and IMHO well worth the extra money.

[bob_amos]

I've heard loads of troubles with Andy. All of which are reflected here. When it comes to rubber parts my shop uses Steele whenever possible. Their stuff is absolutely perfect.

[Don Jordan]

Gentlemen - thank you ever so much. I am ever so appreciative for all the advice. I am making a list of web sites, ordering catalogs, and registering all your comments. I learned (perhaps late in life) that it is so much easier to benefit from other's mistakes that make them all myself.

You've been very helpful - thank you.

I went out and bought a camera today. I'm so old I remember the SLR - these cameras today - I had to take my wife with me to explain what they were all about. Now I've got to learn how to post the pix and I'll show you some very, very BEFORE pictures.

thanks again to all.

d-

[Plymouthy Adams]

Dan..you don't list your car model...not in your profile either..but if this is a Dodge..just don't expect real to life vent window rubber from Steele..while it may work and be of quality rubber..it is cheasy in appearance when compared to an original..and you will tweak it to fit proper..this was the one item that really was lacking and am still upset of the item and their non-concern about it not being correct and I even offered a very nice original for them to copy..I wish someone would give this company some serious competition so quality and price and service after the sale would come into play. And for sure..their master catalog is way superior to their printed version..I am not sure they have changed that catalog for years except for the front cover...again, their base rubber is better than most other companies...but the attitude stinks..beside..at 30,000.00 for a paint job why quibble the rubber...go Steele all the way...

[Normspeed]

If you want a challenging search for window rubber, try finding stuff for a 53 or 54 wagon.

[Plymouthy Adams]

got it..special made..the guy has yet to send me the die number and prices so I can pass it on to the other Suburban owners...flat out gave up on him...

[RALPHDEI]

I used to post under RJD so those of you who have been around awhile know how I feel about Andy B and the junk rubber he sells. For you new guys to this site I'll be brief. I purchased almost $400. worth of rubber from him for my 48 bus cp none of it would accept oe thickness glass properly. After many phone calls I got less then $100 back after shipping it back with a hunk of glass to prove my point. That arrogant SOB said my glass guy (who is the best in my area) didn't know how to install glass. The Steele rubber I purchased went right in, my glass guy commented thats all he uses even though its a few bucks more. I would junk both my 48's before I'ed do business with that bandit again. No one I've ever talked to about him has been completly satisified with the crap he sells.

[Norm's Coupe]

I went out and bought a camera today. I'm so old I remember the SLR - these cameras today - I had to take my wife with me to explain what they were all about. Now I've got to learn how to post the pix and I'll show you some very, very BEFORE pictures.

thanks again to all.

d-

Don, I guess I must be as old, or older than you. I not only remember the old SLR cameras, I still have my 35 mm with the various different lenses to go along with it. I also have a digital camera, but...........I still prefer to use the old SLR when I want good quality pictures to keep. Only use the digital for pictures I may want to post on the net.

[Guest rockabillybassman]

I've used Andy B for all sorts of things, and I've found him good...... but not for rubber! I got several different rubber bits from him, and they were all wrong. I'm not even gonna try a return on them.

[RobertKB]

I agree with rockabillybassman. Andy is OK with most things but do not deal with him on rubber, go Steele. I used him for a lot of things on my '38 Chrysler project and his items were OK. I got brake cylinders, spark plug wires, other electical things, front end suspension, etc. from him and they were pretty good and when they weren't, I did not find him hard to deal with. I guess everyone has their own opinion on Andy.

[Norm's Coupe]

I didn't mention the other stuff I bought from Andy but since others have. I also ordered windshield wiper blades and a fan belt in the late 90's.

On receipt of the wiper blades, they were not the right ones.

On receipt of the fan belt, it was not a solid V Belt, it was a modern notched V Belt.

After his insistence that they were both correct, he did take them back. Of course I had to pay the return shipping though. Even though he took them back, I didn't like the way he talked to me during that conversation. That was the last time I ordered from him due to his attitude at the time.

I ended up buying my blades and new arms from an old Ford vendor and they fit fine. Got the V Belt from a local industrial Belting company. For what it's worth, Andy said the solid V Belts were no longer available. Yet, both the Industrial Belting company stocked them and the local True Value hardware also has them hanging on the wall. So, what's Andy's problem??

P.S. Almost forgot. I also ordered spark plug wire kit from Andy. That was ok, but I could have bought the wire and tips from the local auto parts store, and made them myself since they were not ready made.

[David Maxwell]

...but fortunately heard enough horror stories that I decided to get everthing from Steele and sell the Bernbaum stuff before installing it (fully disclosed my reasons to the buyer). In the end, the only part from Bernbaum I ended up using, because I thought it was so easy to replace I might as well try it, was the gas filler-neck gasket. Within 6 months of installing it, it began cracking around the entire diameter of the gasket AND I GARAGE MY CAR!! My recommendation STAY AWAY FROM HIS RUBBER!!!!!!!