>>  I tried several fixes, the most successful was to cut the bead
>>  of rubber seal from the U channel and remove it. This worked
>>  for about 1 year until the weatherstrip disintegrated.
>>
>>  Unless you want to go to the dealer and pay for the factory
>>  seal, you will need to fiddle about with the after-market seal until
>>  it is quiet.  I  purchased my aftermarket seal from  -------
>>  several years ago.  I would really like to see an seal which is a
>>  single, molded piece of rubber.

> The seal you are describing is not intended for use on the luggage rack.
> The correct "seal" is the U part you describe, without the rubber bead.
> There are drains in the luggage rack, and a true seal would keep the
> water on your roof.  The seals I got from Busdepot consisted of
> the three different types, just like the factory ones.

Yes, mine is indeed a U-shaped molded seal (with internal clip), not just
another piece of poptop seal like most vendors sell.  It is less prone to
noise (although in rare cases it still may be neccessary to either lower the
seal slightly on the luggage rack, or tighten down the luggage rack, if your
luggage rack has slightly loosened over the years).  It also installs more
easily, allows proper drainage of rainwater, and is in fact closer in every
respect to the original VW design. Incidentally, it is also a smoother
finish than the other aftermarket poptop/luggage rack seals, not quite as
smooth as the original but closer than any other aftermarket seal.  My
poptop seal and flat seal are also closer to the correct fit and finish than
any other aftermarket seal.  I have all three seals custom made to my own
specs; they are not an off-the-shelf product.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  http://www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW