Loose outside driver's mirror????
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: London ON
Loose outside driver's mirror????
My original driver's side outside mirror has always been loose (woobly). I bought a new repro from one of the sponsored vendors listed on the side but it too (made in China) is the same. I always suspected the bracket attached to the fender was the problem but it was rock solid. Is there a "fix" to take up the slack between the mirror and fender mounted bracket or do I have to get out the pliers and overtorque the allen key screw??
Many thanks to all who respond.
FRISK
Many thanks to all who respond.
FRISK
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 4
From: Celeste Texas
You have mirror's on your fenders? The door mounted corvette mirrors bolt on from inside the door. Remove the door panel and you can use a deep offset 7/16 wrench to tighten the bolts on that style.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 35
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From: London ON
I meant to say door not fender. The bracket I saw had a hole in it that was held to the door skin with 2 philips head screws. Is there more holding this bracket than that. The bracket with the hole seemed very secure to the door skin?????
FRISK
FRISK
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 21
From: Somerset, NJ
Originally Posted by frisk3
My original driver's side outside mirror has always been loose (woobly). I bought a new repro from one of the sponsored vendors listed on the side but it too (made in China) is the same. I always suspected the bracket attached to the fender was the problem but it was rock solid. Is there a "fix" to take up the slack between the mirror and fender mounted bracket or do I have to get out the pliers and overtorque the allen key screw??
Many thanks to all who respond.
FRISK
Many thanks to all who respond.
FRISK
Fred
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: London ON
I was thinking of a shim with a hole in it to take up the gap between the mirror and bracket as too much is asked of the allen head screw to squeeze the mirror together to the bracket.
FRISK
FRISK
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
Take the tapered allen screw out of the mirror and grind 1/16"-1/8" off the threads, then reinstall. It should hold tight.
The taper on the set screw wedges in the hole on the bracket, but the threads are too long to allow the taper to fully engage the hole. (Threads bottom out before the taper does.)
The taper on the set screw wedges in the hole on the bracket, but the threads are too long to allow the taper to fully engage the hole. (Threads bottom out before the taper does.)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 16
From: absecon nj
I went and looked cause mines loose to on drivers side and tight on passenger side,so i took the allen back out but my problem is the taper goes right through the hole in the bracket ,no wonder its not getting tight.Something ill have to work on tomorrow at work.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: London ON
Mine is the same way the hole goes straight through the bracket. I do beleive its somewhat of a design flaw as that screw can't take up the slack between the mirror and the bracket and the bracket and the mirror. Thats 2 big gaps for an allen screw to squeeze together.
Anybody else have a possible fix?
FRISK
Anybody else have a possible fix?
FRISK
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville NC
I HAD the same problem. Tightening that allen screw won't fix it. Replacing the two inserts (the rubber coated inserts with the screw threads inside that fit into the holes drilled in the side of your car) will help immensely. Mine were worn out so the mirror would not tighten. The entire replacement kit was pretty cheap.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
The bracket on the driver's side should be fastened to caged nuts on the inside of the door skin. That bracket is just crappy pot metal and the hole could enlarge over time. I'd try taking it off (probably need penetrating oil.) and replacing it.
Kalaway, those rubber inserts are called well-nuts or expansion nuts. They didn't moutn the mirrors that way in the early cars. Is you driver's mirror mounted like that, or is just the pass. side? My pass. mirror is an add-on and uses well-nuts. It actually hold much better than the factory-installed mirror! I agree, though. Worn out well-nuts will cause a problem.
Kalaway, those rubber inserts are called well-nuts or expansion nuts. They didn't moutn the mirrors that way in the early cars. Is you driver's mirror mounted like that, or is just the pass. side? My pass. mirror is an add-on and uses well-nuts. It actually hold much better than the factory-installed mirror! I agree, though. Worn out well-nuts will cause a problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
If the head is loose at the ball socket take off the mirror and put it a flat pan of laquer thinner covering the head. In 24 hours the mirror will come out. Tap the heads of the squash on metal bracket with a ball pien hammer. Don't go too much or they will break. When it is tight put mirror back in with silicone.
Lyle
Lyle
