My $45 Door Seal Mod
 

I don't think I've seen this done specifically on our 4Runners but I saw a youtube video with this mod on an f150 (video here) and thought it would work for us too.
It turns out it does. Basically you are just reinforcing the door seal. This is purely anecdotal as I don't have a decibel meter, but the perceived wind noise when driving down the highway is definitely lower than before. I am not great at taking pictures while working, but tried to document a few things for you guys.

Materials Needed:

• Latex Tubing - 50 continuous feet of 1/4" ID x 3/8" OD x 1/16" W ($42 ebay purchase)
• Lube - I used a Silicon Lubricant ($4 hardware store purchase)
• Scissors
• Electrical Tape
• Fish Tape
• Clamp or additional person

Instructions:
Pop off the molding at the bottom of your door. The molding is held on by 3 plastic clips (noted in the image). I found it best to pry from the center on the interior side. The molding easily popped off using just my fingers, but a trim removal tool would work great too. This gives you access to the door seal.
https://i.imgur.com/qV6sK7H.png

Grab the door seal and give it a gentle tug to pull it off. Keep track of the orientation of the door seal, as putting it in the same way it came out will make install easier.
https://i.imgur.com/e8s3S2A.png


If you are working with a helper, now is the time for them to assist. Have them hold the door seal while you feed the fish tape through the large opening on the door seal. If you are working solo, clamp the flat part of the door seal to your workbench. Hold the other end and feed the fish tape through the larger hole.
https://i.imgur.com/9hHYsDh.png

Slide the latex tubing over the end of the fish tape and use the electrical tape to help secure it. Once it's secure, give the tube/tape a spray with the lube. I also sprayed the tube that was still on the reel, figuring that it would be lubed as I pulled the tape through. If you have a helper, they could probably spray as you pull.
https://i.imgur.com/aVyNhKd.png

Then simply pull the latex tubing through the door seal. If you are solo and have a portable bench, you'll need some weight on top of it.
https://i.imgur.com/NEgtNwX.png

Once pulled through, I tried to push some of the latex tube back in the seal.
It stretches as it pulls and this helped alleviate some of the stretch. Then, when cutting the tube, leave an extra 3-6" on each side. I found the tube still retained some of the stretch and as I moved the seal around installing, it would retract more into the seal.

Reinstall by simply pushing the enforced door seal back on its track. Keep the big hole with the latex tube facing the exterior door.

Now the rear doors are super simple, but the front doors have a piece of trim covering the door seal.
https://i.imgur.com/b9wTaZT.png
With the driver side door (the first door I attempted), I completely pulled off the trim. With the passenger side door, i was able to gently pry it up enough to remove and reinstall the door seal.

I did the trunk seal as well, but it is one solid piece from the factory so you will have to cut it in half to proceed. My trunk seal had slipped off the track a little and I closed my trunk on it, so it already had a small tear. That made me a lot less cautious on cutting it open to thread the tube through. Reinforcing the 4 doors + the trunk left me with about 3 feet of tubing from the 50 foot roll.

And that's basically it. I was surprised at how easy this mod was. I wish I had picture of the front door's extra trim removed for y'all and the extra tubing I left when cutting the seal, but as I said I'm no good at taking pictures. It is simple enough that I may pop off the trim and add pictures later. I do feel like it's made a solid difference in reducing the amount of wind noise while driving. Anyone else try this?

following this thread

interesting! following

Well this thread just got bookmarked. I'll have to do this sometime this year.

looks like a great idea. seems like this mod makes the seal fatter ? will this make it harder to close the door as well?

It doesn't change the size of the seal, just the firmness. It will make the door slightly harder to close, but it's not really noticeable. I do notice a difference with the trunk requiring effort to shut. There has been 2 times where I thought I closed the trunk and started to drive, only to see the info bar light up and beep telling me the trunk was still open.

Great idea, following

great, following especially after dash speakers and crossover upgrade

subd

My next mod, hope it helps with the wind tunnel effects.

Looking at this closer today. Would it not be more effective to do the weather strip attached to the door? It would need to be cut, but it's a continuous seal, unlike the one posted above that start/stops at the trim threshold.

For my 2018 I don't think the door seals are letting much dust in. Where I see evidence of dust getting in is right around the lever/handle for opening the door and also the U-shaped slot where the door latches on the stud.

Do you happen to have a link to the tube you bought from ebay?

Playing with this today and it does nothing for the wind noise I'm experiencing.

Who cares about wind noise? Does it really matter when you have ALL windows down. :thumb: