Wobbly Mirror

l008com

Original poster
Member
Feb 19, 2016
942
Massachusetts
I'm having issues with my driver's side mirror. It is loose enough that it rattles. It's noisy when you close the door, but the real problem is that it vibrates sometimes when it's windy or when you're on the highway. Only the driver's side does this.

I have a video of the movement in the mirror. But the strange part is that the passenger side mirror seems to have the same exact looseness by hand. Yet it doesn't vibrate when you close the door nor does it vibrate in the wind. The wind vibration is the real issue, as it makes it hard to see when you need to use the mirror.

I'm not sure which of the two movements is the one causing the problem, but any suggestions on tightening it up?

 

gmac310

Member
Dec 4, 2011
174
Looks like both the glass mechanism and the pivot are borked. You might just be better off getting a replacement.
 
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TollKeeper

Supporting Donor
Member
Dec 3, 2011
8,253
Brighton, CO
Have the same problem with my passenger mirror. I'm buying replacement mirrors from eBay that are painted with the smoke lenses to replace them with.
 

Chickenhawk

Member
Dec 6, 2011
783
Not sure how to tighten the mirror assembly on the body, but the mirror wobbling within the housing is a loose mirror stem. This can be fixed easily. I did a write-up on this many years ago. I think you take the mirror apart and find the spring retainer nut that holds the stem. The retainer rusts and no longer holds the spring firm. Take off the nut, flatten down the inside and replace it, and you may get a few more years, for no cost. I also wrapped the stem with some thin plexi to take up the worn space.

On the other hand, you can get a brand new mirror assembly for $60 or so.
 
Last edited:

Mooseman

Moderator
Dec 4, 2011
26,026
Ottawa, ON
There is a spring at the hinge inside. It loses some of its tension as it rusts. If you take off the front cap, you'll see it. Although I haven't tried to fix this, maybe shimming that spring might fix it.
 

Sparky

Member
Dec 4, 2011
12,927
My passenger mirror had the hinge wobble and how I fixed it without replacing was to take the back cover off the mirror to expose the hinge, used a deep socket and a hammer to tap the retainer down to recompress the spring, then I drilled a hole through the post and used a cotter pin to keep the retainer from sliding upward on the post. Never hinge wobbled again.
 

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