Drivers mirror fix ?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
Drivers mirror fix ?
Is there a way to get more life out of my OE drivers side mirror? It flops down when I hit a big bump or hit 100 on the freeway. I just want to stiffen it up a little .......
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
Fix it yourself
I used a little rubber cement on the ball. Flop the mirror all the way up, down, left and right and using a small paint brush apply the rubber cement to the part of the ball that will be in the socket when the mirror head is in the driving position. After applying the glue, move the head around a little to distribute the glue, let it dry and wipe off the excess on the exposed part of the ball. It seemed to "fix" mine (no pun intended).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
Likes: 5
From: Naperville Illinois
Get a spring-loaded center punch (Harbor Freight sells one for around $3) and use it to dimple the ball. Move the mirror around to expose as much of the ball as possible while making a couple dozen evenly distributed punches. 3 years since I did mine and it's still like new. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
To adjust the tension spring inside the mirror head, you can remove the mirror glass by soaking the unit in lacquer thinner for a half hour or so. This loosens the adhesive so you can easily pry the glass loose. You can then tighten up the spring inside the mirror head. After that you can reinstall the glass with a bead of RTV.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
There is a really great paper on this somewhere, probably in the FAQ area. Basically I used a gasoline soak overnight (the glass fell out), then used some really thin shim stock (with a slot cut in it) wedged between the rivet and the spring steel (both sides) that holds tension on the mirror pivot ball. After that, JB weld to hold the shim, silicone to re-glue the glass and now both sides are real tight!
Hans
Hans
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
If you want to fix it the correct way, you need to take the glass off first. The you can see what the issue is. If it's an original, it will have rivets, and will require shims to keep it tight. If it's an aftermarket mirror, it will have screws, and a plastic bushing that has torn - go to lowes and get some plastic washers and you will be good to go.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 34
From: Ontario
If you want to fix it the correct way, you need to take the glass off first. The you can see what the issue is. If it's an original, it will have rivets, and will require shims to keep it tight. If it's an aftermarket mirror, it will have screws, and a plastic bushing that has torn - go to lowes and get some plastic washers and you will be good to go.
Bill
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
I have a .pdf with pictures that someone posted a long time ago to fix this common issue. Send my your email in a PM and I will attach the .pdf.
The thing I did differently was to soak the mirror is lacquer thinner instead of gasoline. Safer and the glass just fell off after 5 hours of soaking.
The thing I did differently was to soak the mirror is lacquer thinner instead of gasoline. Safer and the glass just fell off after 5 hours of soaking.
