How the heck do i do it without damaging the paint in the grooves

s3 xj6

 

I bought a package of plastic tools at Harbor Freight... use two or three of them in different places.

Pushing in the new seals does not damage the paint - only your hands.

 

I remember using wood tools and vaseline - can't remember what the wood tool was ,...I think it was a paint stir stick modified by whittling it to desired shape(s)

 

I filed down a narrow plastic putty knife to about 3/4" wide and used dishwashing soap as the lubricant. Worked great. Vaseline will never dry.

 

Rubber grease is available for this type of work. I have just finished qtr vent rubbers in a 1960 car I am working on. A bit of rubber grease and some nudging and persuading rather than brute force seem to work well.

Glad to hear you got it done , the seals on my S3 are getting tired so this job is looming.