Can you tighten a factory side mirror?, Mine won't stay put! Options

[MoveQik]

Every time I get off the freeway, I have to adjust my side mirror as the wind pushes it up, down, in...everywhere. Is there a way to tighten the thing up?

[Joe Ricard]

Yea take it off and flip it upside down. you will see a nut with a spring under the nut. just tighten the nut and whala.

[Aaron Cox]

QUOTE (Joe Ricard @ Dec 6 2005, 10:56 AM)

Yea take it off and flip it upside down. you will see a nut with a spring under the nut. just tighten the nut and whala.

and "voila" (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[ss6]

Unscrew it from the body. There is a 10 mm nut in the throat you can tighten.

[MoveQik]

Great. Thanks guys. On to my next question...

Which engine is better, a stock 2.0 six or a big four? JUST KIDDING! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beerchug.gif)

[Mark Henry]

Most times you need to take a cheap 10mm socket and grind the OD down to fit in the mirror nut hole. Nows a good time to take it apart and lube it.

[TROJANMAN]

Great. Thanks guys. On to my next question...

Which engine is better, a stock 2.0 six or a big four? JUST KIDDING! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

your wimpy ass 1.8 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[michel richard]

Yea take it off and flip it upside down. you will see a nut with a spring under the nut. just tighten the nut and whala.

and "voila" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

euh, voilà . . .

[MoveQik]

Well shit, nothing is ever easy. I pop the mirror off and tighten the nut up. It won't budge front to back but it did absolutely nothing for the up and down slop. What next?

[Mark Henry]

euh, voilà . . . Michel got it right...helps that he's French Canadian (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

I "think" that one may need mirror removal...never done that one.
Done others and they were just 2 sided tape, heating it a heat gun softened the tape.

[Joe Ricard]

Oh the other nut. Yea that one is a real PITA
The mirror glass has to come out. To do this usually means destroying the brittle rubber glass surround when removing it. once the glass is out then the same "tighten the nut" procedure.

[McMark]

How convenient, I just did one of these on Sunday. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) Full disassembly and lube. Here's the trick that I used.

You need:

• two razor blades
  
• 2 small bladed flat screwdrivers
  
• patience
  

You have to pry out the black plastic "ring" that holds the glass in. If you stick a screw driver under it, you'll crack up the mirror. So starting at the center of one of the wide sections carefully work the razor blade (sharp side) between the black plastic and the glass. You may have to use the screwdrivers a bit to help gain access. Once the razor blade is in, you can slide the screwdriver between the razor blade and the black plastic and twist the screwdriver to pry up the plastic. The razor blade will spread the load and protect the mirror glass. Work your way a little closer to one corner.

Once you get one screwdriver securely underneath the plastic, insert the second razor blade/screwdriver combo right next to the first and work it towards the other corner. To pop the corners out takes a little more "oomf", but if you're slow and careful it should come out without braking. Once you get one corner out it's just a matter of going around and prying it all out. Keep using the razor blade to protect the glass.

Underneath the glass there is a clear plastic spacer. I've seen some that disintegrate once you take the glass out. I this is the case, you'll have to devise some otherway to keep the glass away from the metal side and tight against the black plastic. Perhaps duct tape behind the glass? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

Lube and tighten the nut as necessary with an 8 mm wrench.

If you're clear plastic piece was okay, insert it first and then place the glass on top of it. There is a small lip that must be visible around the border of the glass. It make take a few tries and a little pick work to make it seat right. If this isn't clear, test assemble the glass and clear plastic in your hand. You'll see how the glass goes "inside" the clear plastic piece. Once those two are in, slowly and carefully push the black plastic in. Plan ahead so that the first corner you put in and the last corner you put in have a long space between them.

[MoveQik]

Thanks Mark. I printed this and I'm off to the garage. Update to follow....

[MoveQik]

Ok, someone post Mark's method in a "How-to" forum. This worked great and everything is nice and tight now. No broken glass or screwed up gaskets.

Thanks again Mark. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beerchug.gif)

[McMark]

No problem. Glad it worked out for you! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

[Dave_Darling]

I'd love it if someone took some pics.

Regardless, this should go in the "Classics" section!

--DD

[SLITS]

Interesting.....I've been able to tighten the one behind the glass..no problem, but the stand nut has always been frozen and breaks off...bummer

[GTeener]

How convenient, I just did one of these on Sunday. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Full disassembly and lube. Here's the trick that I used.

You need:

• two razor blades
• 2 small bladed flat screwdrivers
• patience

You have to pry out the black plastic "ring" that holds the glass in. If you stick a screw driver under it, you'll crack up the mirror. So starting at the center of one of the wide sections carefully work the razor blade (sharp side) between the black plastic and the glass. You may have to use the screwdrivers a bit to help gain access. Once the razor blade is in, you can slide the screwdriver between the razor blade and the black plastic and twist the screwdriver to pry up the plastic. The razor blade will spread the load and protect the mirror glass. Work your way a little closer to one corner.

Once you get one screwdriver securely underneath the plastic, insert the second razor blade/screwdriver combo right next to the first and work it towards the other corner. To pop the corners out takes a little more "oomf", but if you're slow and careful it should come out without braking. Once you get one corner out it's just a matter of going around and prying it all out. Keep using the razor blade to protect the glass.

Underneath the glass there is a clear plastic spacer. I've seen some that disintegrate once you take the glass out. I this is the case, you'll have to devise some otherway to keep the glass away from the metal side and tight against the black plastic. Perhaps duct tape behind the glass? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Lube and tighten the nut as necessary with an 8 mm wrench.

If you're clear plastic piece was okay, insert it first and then place the glass on top of it. There is a small lip that must be visible around the border of the glass. It make take a few tries and a little pick work to make it seat right. If this isn't clear, test assemble the glass and clear plastic in your hand. You'll see how the glass goes "inside" the clear plastic piece. Once those two are in, slowly and carefully push the black plastic in. Plan ahead so that the first corner you put in and the last corner you put in have a long space between them.

Thanks Mark!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[GTeener]

I'd love it if someone took some pics.

Regardless, this should go in the "Classics" section!

--DD

Wayne Cowie (type47fan) told me he had pictures of this process and was going to send them to me, but I guess he forgot....

[STL914]

I just tried Marks method to remove the glass, and aside from breaking both razor blades in the process, it worked fine. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif)

I needed to switch the mirror from a driver side position to passenger side position, but the body will not rotate. It's now sitting in the garage after an application of Liquid Wrench.

Thanks Mark