I recently found a steering rack cover panel in pretty good shape to replace the rusty one on my car. I bought two new seals (part # SIC-341-165-00 @ Stoddard) to fit on the panel. The seals don't slip onto the panel readily, as they have metal strips embedded on either side of the opening to help shape them to the panel edges.

Is fitting the seals simply a matter of prying the strips apart, fitting the seal on the panel, then crimping them back together again? I'm sorry I can't find the right words to describe what I'm trying to do, and that I don't have any photos (though I can take them if necessary).

Thanks,
Ed