Side mirror glass removal
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 98
Likes: 7
From: Miami
Side mirror glass removal
Hello, I tried to remove the glass on the driver side mirror by soaking the mirror in lacquer thinner but the glass was still firmly stuck on the mirror. I left it in the thinner overnight and it still didnt help. I then tried to use a suction cup to remove the glass but it didn’t work. I don’t need to replace the glass I just need to fix the wobbling so breaking it isn’t an option.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 299
From: Midlothian VA
If your goal is to simply stabilize the head that holds the mirror you can usually accomplish that without removing the mirror glass.
1) remove the mirror assembly from the car door via the set screw at the base.
2) place the mirror face on a firm surface (I used a pine board - firm enough to support the work but soft enough to prevent damage to the mirror)
3) rotate the mirror support arm so you can access the covered portion of the ball that the mirror head sits on (where the mirror head normally sits against the ball)
4) using a pointed punch and a small hammer punch several dimples into the portion of the support arm ball that sits against the mirror head when properly positioned for driving
The dimples will enlarge the surface of the ball just enough to take up the space that causes the mirror head to wiggle/fall/move during driving.
The number of dimples required to tighten the mirror head depends on how loose your mirror is.
1) remove the mirror assembly from the car door via the set screw at the base.
2) place the mirror face on a firm surface (I used a pine board - firm enough to support the work but soft enough to prevent damage to the mirror)
3) rotate the mirror support arm so you can access the covered portion of the ball that the mirror head sits on (where the mirror head normally sits against the ball)
4) using a pointed punch and a small hammer punch several dimples into the portion of the support arm ball that sits against the mirror head when properly positioned for driving
The dimples will enlarge the surface of the ball just enough to take up the space that causes the mirror head to wiggle/fall/move during driving.
The number of dimples required to tighten the mirror head depends on how loose your mirror is.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Mine didn't "fall off" after it soaked overnight, still needed to apply a little force the next day but as soon as you started to pry a little with a plastic wedge I could see it start to move and then just more or less held a bit of pressure on and it lifted off
Because mine was staked off center I had to remove one size, tap and then I could install a spacer on the other side (e-clip worked perfectly) and then loctite the screw in place
M
Last edited by Mooser; Oct 29, 2019 at 06:15 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 722
From: Marietta GA
I hope it’s not to late, but my fix was like yours ... and about three months latter the mirror began to flop when I shut the door. Repeated the soaking / gas mirror removal, and this time used Thread Lock on the added screw, I also think I put a glob of Epoxy on the clamping part. I really hate doing a repair THREE TIMES.
ELI
ELI
