To take it to an extreme, I've seen people post about "which plane should I buy".
Invariably, someone posts "why not build a (bearhawk, supercub, S7, whatever)?"
Personally the skills to build an airplane might be available, but the time to do so is not-
so I'd rather buy. Ditto for manufacturing parts, usually.
FWIW I seem to recall someone in the C180/185 Club having some strut seals for sale?
Alternatively, Skywagon City or a less-type-specific salvage outfit might be a good place to look.
Or hit it with some Dap and hide the evidence with a fairing.