Rear trim molding... Help

Okay so this is one of the many reasons I'm happy there are forums for Hummers.

This is the situation, I have a 2006 H3, the rear plastic roof/side moldings, or trim, that comes down to the rear taillight assemblies was having an issue.

There is a rubber gasket that sits between the plastic trim and the body. This gasket was peeling away, and I brought it to the dealer for a warranty replacement.
When I got the truck back, it looked like all they did was peel the rest off, and left the plastic trim making contact with the body.
When I brought this to their attention they said, that this was the part that they received. I told them that it was not complete and they would have to get another.

I spoke with the parts man today, and he told me that he had received the new parts in and they also had no rubber gaskets.

He stated further that he did speak with GM, and they(GM) redesigned the part to be manufactured now without the gasket. Something about cost efficiency.

WELL. I'm looking at the replacement piece that is on the truck now, and it looks like crap!!!
So here is the poop. Can anyone who is invloved in the design area of GM that reads this board advise me if this is true, and how we can make the truck's rear trim molding look better?
It was great before and made the trim look finished. Now it really looks like junk, and even gives the appearance that something is broken or missing.

Is there a part number for both the left and right to give to the dealer, that gives us the molding trim with the gasket, and moreover, are they available?

Please someone help me with this.


See how jagged the piece looks without hte gasket? It just looks unfinished.


This is the piece with the gasket. More uniform, straight, and looks better to the eye.

Pics added.
These may look better.

without...


with gasket...

[lance-n]

i sympathize with you, but it looks pretty much the same to me!
i would think that without the rubber gasket it would squeak alot-which would drive me crazy!!!

[Big Dad]

What about this? Tried it yet? JK!

[Big Dad]

Without a before and after shot it was difficult to figure out. I went out and eyeballed my 06. Yours is missing the gasket alright. Seriously though, I would think that Gm probably ordered that gasket material from someone else rather than manufacture it. But you never know. Is there any way to get a part number or the name of the manufacturer from your service department? Or possibly from GM? My guess is -- they buy it by the roll. Worse case scenario, IMHO, you could find a suitable sub and install it yourself. I agree it looks rather $hitty without it.

[Big Dad]

The more and more I think about it I'd go back to the dealer and piss and moan about the plastic chaffing the paint. I'd tell them they'll be having the $hit painted after someone gets the gasket material. Or perhaps, you could get them to belly up to the bar and get you the info for the original gasket material. You know manufacturer, contact, and phone number. Or you could go the GM direct route. I wouldn't let it go at this point though. Again, MHO.

Well after a day at the dealer's showroom, and service I have the answer.

It appears that GM decided to re-design not only the 'D' pillar trim, but the whole top rail too.

I just had my roof rails replaced due to the crack that FourFour2, pointed out here on the forum.
Turns out that the dealer installed rails that have a rubber gasket on the bottom portion where it meets the body just above the rear window between the 'C' and 'D' pillars. Same aswhat I had on the truck from the factory.

I looked at several new H3's on the lot, and found that the roof rail now has an extra piece of plastic that takes the place of this rubber gasket, and the new trucks are mix matched with 'D' pillar trims that have the gaskets and some that don't.

So I spoke with parts after discovering this change, and during the interim, the parts dept. found out from GM, that the older parts(roof rails & Trim) now re-designed, no longer are made with the gaskets.
I imagine that the remaining parts are being used in New vehicle production until all the old parts are depleted.

Anyway, now, I will be getting a new set of roof rails, and 'D' pillar moldings to remedy this issue, and the truck's trim will be uniform again.
As for the chopped exacto knife look that my current pillar trim has,(as if the rubber gasket was cut out) It seems that if it is installed tightly, it should look fine. Not as nice as the gasket that kind of formed to where it wasn't perfectly flush, but better than what it is now.

Keep an eye on your trim. You might have these issues if you need to replace one piece only. You might get lucky, but then again, you might end up with a mix matched set of trim molding.
Frankly I think that it should be a GM recall item instead of a Service Bulletin, and just replace the defective molding with the new trim.