Search
Search titles only
By:
Search titles only
By:
Forums
New posts
Search forums
Members
Registered members
Member Map
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
What's new
New posts
All posts
Trending
Latest activity
New media
New Events
New review items
New Users & BDays
New User Announcements
Birthday Announcements
New classified ads
New showcase items
New classified comments
New showcase comments
Classifieds
New ads
New comments
Latest content
Latest feedback
Latest questions
Advertiser list
Search classifieds
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Events
New events
Donate
My CCF
Toolbox
Mailing Lists
My Shop
Reviews
New items
Latest content
Latest reviews
Latest questions
Brands
Search reviews
Showcase
New items
New comments
Latest content
Latest updates
Latest reviews
Author list
Series list
Search showcase
Log in
Register
Search
Search titles only
By:
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Members
Registered members
Member Map
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Menu
Install the app
Install
Reply to thread
Corvette
Corvette Tech Questions & DIY
DIY: Floppy Side Mirror Fix
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Pyro" data-source="post: 44756" data-attributes="member: 1313"><p>So a week ago i was washing the car and pivoted my passenger side mirror to let the water drain out of the housing better and something "popped" as i was pivoting the mirror and the mirror would not stay in place and swiveled around freely. My heart sank.</p><p></p><p>My resources were one on removing the side mirror <a href="http://content.mamotorworks.com/pdf/632007.pdf" target="_blank">http://content.mamotorworks.com/pdf/632007.pdf</a></p><p>and a post on another corvette forum that i used as the basis for my fix <a href="http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-tech/2110270-how-to-fix-a-floppy-side-mirror.html" target="_blank">How to fix a floppy side mirror - Corvette Forum</a></p><p></p><p>I'm not sure how many of you have had this problem but i was not about to spend $300 for a new side mirror housing so here is a $15 fix that the mechnically inclined can attempt. well $7.50 fix since $15 will provide enough parts for both mirrors. All the parts can be found at your local home depot.</p><p></p><p>Here are some tools you need</p><p>- assorted wrenches depending on size of lock nuts (i used an 18mm wrench)</p><p>- long nosed locking pliers (i found it easier to work with)</p><p>- saw</p><p>- electrical tape</p><p></p><p>Here is what you need from home depot</p><p>- *1/4" nipple *snickers*</p><p>- 1/4" locking nuts (2 or 4 to be safe)</p><p>- 1/2" flat stainless steel washer (washer should cover diameter of spring)</p><p>- 1/2" stainless steel locking washer</p><p>OPTIONAL: Thread locker</p><p></p><p>Double up the quantities if you are doing both mirrors (or do what i did and just buy all the stuff so you have it on hand should the other one fail).</p><p></p><p>* a quick check on the home depot website shows a bunch of different nipples, i went with 3" long ones that worked well for me, but they can be shorter as i had a lot of thread on either end left. if you end up with longer ones you can always cut them. To be safe just bring the base and spring with you to home depot to check sizing and fitment. Also...I had a hell of a time with the home depot employees...all incompetent...the nipples will be found in the lighting area.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/FkPeoGVl.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/89xhvcVl.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/nd2z9ROl.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p></p><p>I will skip the removal of the side mirror process and the tools required for it and jump right into the fix. For instructions on removal, please view the links i included above or contact me for the pdf version should the links fail.</p><p></p><p>Once you have the side mirror off bring it inside or to your designated work area, make sure the area is clean and be very careful to avoid any scratches or marks on your side mirror, have some micro fibre towels to help handle the mirror and protect it when you set it aside.</p><p></p><p>you can try to take apart the entire mirror to disconnect the wires or do what i did and just cut them (we'll reattach them later). make sure to leave enough length from the mirror housing to work with when reattaching. and then remove the side mirror housing from the base which bolts down to the door</p><p></p><p>also 2 wires are the same colour for the heated mirrors, i'm not sure if it makes a difference so mark one of the wires just to be safe, the rest are colour coded</p><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/cTkKO5Al.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>This is the base of the side mirror as well as a picture of the spring and the locking ring with teeth that grab onto the lip that you see at the top of the base. As you can imagine it's only a matter of time before one of these will pop off eventually....and don't try to compress the spring to push the ring back down...doesn't work lol</p><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/VrRlhPKl.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/cqhQoNMl.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>take your saw and saw of the lip of the base where the ring normally would sit</p><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/qbpCxZql.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>here is a shot of how all the parts should fit together through the base of the mirror</p><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/jETcFIZl.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>thread the wires from the mirror housing through the locking nut, washer and spring</p><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/oknxyRfl.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>thread the nipple through the hole of the base until thread is visible on both ends, check with the mirror housing to make sure you have enough clearance in the housing, now place the locking washer on the bottom (underside) of the mirror base and put a washer in place then tighten a locking nut (use thread locker if desired) then put the second locking nut on. Then run the wire from the housing through the hole and then through the nipple. i found that the black electical tubing made things a tight squeeze so i removed it but you can keep it if you can make it work</p><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/L54jKHll.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>shot from of the bottom of the base after everything is loosely assembled and the inside of the mirror housing. it's tricky and this is where long nosed locking pliers helped for tightening the locking nuts (do them one at a time or else it won't work out that well) and have locking pliers on both ends or else it will just spin and not tighten</p><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/OVPqjuml.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/6oJkcEul.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Pyro, post: 44756, member: 1313"] So a week ago i was washing the car and pivoted my passenger side mirror to let the water drain out of the housing better and something "popped" as i was pivoting the mirror and the mirror would not stay in place and swiveled around freely. My heart sank. My resources were one on removing the side mirror [URL="http://content.mamotorworks.com/pdf/632007.pdf"]http://content.mamotorworks.com/pdf/632007.pdf[/URL] and a post on another corvette forum that i used as the basis for my fix [url=http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-tech/2110270-how-to-fix-a-floppy-side-mirror.html]How to fix a floppy side mirror - Corvette Forum[/url] I'm not sure how many of you have had this problem but i was not about to spend $300 for a new side mirror housing so here is a $15 fix that the mechnically inclined can attempt. well $7.50 fix since $15 will provide enough parts for both mirrors. All the parts can be found at your local home depot. Here are some tools you need - assorted wrenches depending on size of lock nuts (i used an 18mm wrench) - long nosed locking pliers (i found it easier to work with) - saw - electrical tape Here is what you need from home depot - *1/4" nipple *snickers* - 1/4" locking nuts (2 or 4 to be safe) - 1/2" flat stainless steel washer (washer should cover diameter of spring) - 1/2" stainless steel locking washer OPTIONAL: Thread locker Double up the quantities if you are doing both mirrors (or do what i did and just buy all the stuff so you have it on hand should the other one fail). * a quick check on the home depot website shows a bunch of different nipples, i went with 3" long ones that worked well for me, but they can be shorter as i had a lot of thread on either end left. if you end up with longer ones you can always cut them. To be safe just bring the base and spring with you to home depot to check sizing and fitment. Also...I had a hell of a time with the home depot employees...all incompetent...the nipples will be found in the lighting area. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/FkPeoGVl.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/89xhvcVl.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/nd2z9ROl.jpg[/IMG] I will skip the removal of the side mirror process and the tools required for it and jump right into the fix. For instructions on removal, please view the links i included above or contact me for the pdf version should the links fail. Once you have the side mirror off bring it inside or to your designated work area, make sure the area is clean and be very careful to avoid any scratches or marks on your side mirror, have some micro fibre towels to help handle the mirror and protect it when you set it aside. you can try to take apart the entire mirror to disconnect the wires or do what i did and just cut them (we'll reattach them later). make sure to leave enough length from the mirror housing to work with when reattaching. and then remove the side mirror housing from the base which bolts down to the door also 2 wires are the same colour for the heated mirrors, i'm not sure if it makes a difference so mark one of the wires just to be safe, the rest are colour coded [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/cTkKO5Al.jpg[/IMG] This is the base of the side mirror as well as a picture of the spring and the locking ring with teeth that grab onto the lip that you see at the top of the base. As you can imagine it's only a matter of time before one of these will pop off eventually....and don't try to compress the spring to push the ring back down...doesn't work lol [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/VrRlhPKl.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/cqhQoNMl.jpg[/IMG] take your saw and saw of the lip of the base where the ring normally would sit [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/qbpCxZql.jpg[/IMG] here is a shot of how all the parts should fit together through the base of the mirror [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/jETcFIZl.jpg[/IMG] thread the wires from the mirror housing through the locking nut, washer and spring [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/oknxyRfl.jpg[/IMG] thread the nipple through the hole of the base until thread is visible on both ends, check with the mirror housing to make sure you have enough clearance in the housing, now place the locking washer on the bottom (underside) of the mirror base and put a washer in place then tighten a locking nut (use thread locker if desired) then put the second locking nut on. Then run the wire from the housing through the hole and then through the nipple. i found that the black electical tubing made things a tight squeeze so i removed it but you can keep it if you can make it work [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/L54jKHll.jpg[/IMG] shot from of the bottom of the base after everything is loosely assembled and the inside of the mirror housing. it's tricky and this is where long nosed locking pliers helped for tightening the locking nuts (do them one at a time or else it won't work out that well) and have locking pliers on both ends or else it will just spin and not tighten [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/OVPqjuml.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/6oJkcEul.jpg[/IMG] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Corvette
Corvette Tech Questions & DIY
DIY: Floppy Side Mirror Fix
Top
Bottom
You're browsing as a
Guest
. Please register to receive all manner of go-faster benefits on CCF. Click
HERE
to login or register.