VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Window Regulator Question

Hi folks. I am sure many must have replaced the roller that guides the window reg up and down in the channels in the doors. What did you use? I see Chevs has a kit available, but I am not sure I want to drill out the rivets at the roller hubs. I am thinking of maybe stretching a semi stiff neoprene washer up and over the hub, or maybe slicing a nylon washer and loading that. Anybody have a better method?? Bowtie

I used thick pieces of leather on my 39, cut slots in the leather, forced it over the head of the rivets,lubricated them with white lube. I used this on all the regulators in 1991 and have had no problems.

DD

You know, maybe I have been going at this all wrong. My regulators have what looks like a thin piece of leather type material riding loose on the axle. I assumed that there was something else in there, taking up the rest of the space on the axle, that would ride up and down in the channel, but maybe that's all there is intended to be??

I had a crazy thing happen at work the other day. I ran into a fella that started in 1946 - yes 1946. He's 85 yrs old and still working, and spend most of his career at the GM Ternstedt Div. (the people that made these regulators for years and years) I took in my regulator to ask him about it and he verifies that dandyd is correct. Leather WAS the material actually used for the roller. He reflected back on the assembly process as if it was yesterday. I can't believe I happened across this guy, what are the chances?? Anyway, mine have worn down the OD over the years to the point that I will need to replace them with something, I am still thinking maybe a neoprene washer, but I wanted to pass the story along. Bowtie

Having spent 36 years with GM it is nice to hear from previous employees. I am sure there is a ton of knowledge out there if we could find a way to publish it. Good luck with your regulators.

DD

I am hunting for a 7/8" hollow punch and I may try the leather idea. I have been at GM for about 26 years myself. This guy retired from GM direct and still holds a contract job at C/O after all these years. Where did you find leather stock to work with??

Art supply houses carry leather, hobby shops, crafts stores. Check with your local car interior shops also. Can also order it on line. I have been known to re-cycle leather from other 'things' also.

You can make a punch, sharpen the end of a short piece of a 7/8" thin wall tube (metal) or whatever size you need and use a wood block on the top as a homemade punch if you can't find one.

I bought mine at a local shoe repair shop (a thing of the past). We bought rubber soles for brake pads when my son was racing soap box derbys at the same shop. We now have a local western store,saddle shop to purchase it from.

DD