Aerodynamic question - 1st gen windows
 

Had the rubber surrounds (door and windows) replaced on the driver's side of my '81 RX this summer. I'm now suspecting that the door surround is so 'fat' that it causes the window to generate *a lot* of wind noise. The window surround has a small 'dimple' at one location, but the wind noise seems unrelated to this, rather to the 'fat' door surround instead.

Here's some photos of the driver side and passenger side door surrounds. The passenger side enables air to move into channels and past the window enclosure, but there's no opportunity for this on the drivers side. I figure this 'seals' the entire window area, causing unrelieved turbulence -and hence wind noise- over its entire area at speed.

Am I thinking right about this? I've still got the old door surround and can reinstall it, but I'd prefer learning of others' observations & comments beforehand. Thanks!

You are probably right about the fact that it seals better now....and thus creating a more sealed surface for wind to hit and 'bounce' off. New seals are better than old, they look better, and perform better. This seal is meant to seal the window when it goes up in the track.

THEREFORE....it's doing its job. I would look into being able to hear the high rpms of your engine better at highway speeds....3500 to 4000 rpm should be a much nicer sound than wind resistance :nod:

ORRRRRR I'm completely wrong and no offense, but the seal may not be pressed in all the way. Or it could be that they gave you a crappy one. Compare it with the old one. Put the old one back on and see how that sounds in comparison (if you still have it). And maybe visually check them out together. Just curious, what was the reason you replaced it? (not saying you shouldn't have replaced it, just curious)