Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 15:05:11 -0800
Reply-To: "Thomas J. LaLanne" <lalanne@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Thomas J. LaLanne" <lalanne@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Mirror fixes
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To anyone with loose mirrors (probably almost everyone at one time or
another):
When I bought my vanagon last summer, its mirrors were awful. Most of
the time, I got a beautiful view of the ground next to the car. I found
several tips from the archives on correcting the problem. I first tried
tightening the nut, but that didn't work. I next tried the plastic
washer fix, and it worked so well that I decided to save the methods,
and send them to friends. The following are different levels of mirror
repairs that all of us will undoubtedly need from time to time.
Simple fix
Take the mirror off (two screws at the base). Look up into the base —
you'll see a nut, stud and spring arrangement. You can tighten the
nut--- and this will hopefully cure the floppiness. Approach this
gently, with lots of WD-40 if it looks at all corroded. The stud is just
stuck in the plastic and can pull out or simply shear off.
Better fix
1. Remove mirror.
2. Clean oxidized contact surfaces.
3. Disassemble the nut/spring assembly, making note of where things go.
4. Insert a washer cut from thin polyethylene (a plastic milk carton is
ideal) on either side of the spring (I used a dime for the exterior
pattern, and punched the hole out with a paper hole punch).
5. Tighten the nut and reassemble.
This works well to keep the mirror in position yet allows it to be
positioned without the fear of ripping it out by its roots. The washer
will wear out in a couple of years, but it is easily and, certainly,
cheaply replaced.
The big whammy (if the stud is loose)
You will need:
tube of JB Weld
vise
Vise Grips
bench grinder (wear safety goggles/gloves)
1. Remove mirror from door.
2. Disassemble the nut/spring assembly.
3. Place the arm of the mirror in a vise so that you can pull on the
stud extending from the swivel part and it won't slip. Pad it the mirror
with old socks, and do not tighten the vise too tight or you might crack
the plastic exterior.
4. With a vise grip, grasp the smooth part of the shaft & clamp down
firmly.
5. Pull the stud. Pull some more. Pull hard enough to pull it out.
6. When stud is removed, look at the way the bolt emerges from the
socket. Remember it.
7. Use the grinder to remove material from the surfaces of each of the
six sides and end to make room for JB Weld to fuse the metal stud and
the white cast metal of the mirror support arm. Remove ~ .5-1 mm from
each surface.
8. Periodically test fit the stud to fit loosely in the previous home
of the mirror support arm. You want enough room to spread some JB weld
in there, and to get good contact between the two.
9. Mix JB Weld.
10. Spread some JB Weld into the hole. Use a toothpick to get good
coverage on the surfaces down in there. Spread some JB Weld onto the
surface of the stud. Not too much, just coat all surfaces.
11. Insert stud so that it resembles it's position before you removed
it.
12. Clean around area of socket to ensure smooth surface contact
between the ball and the socket.
13. Loosely assemble to look for clearances. Fix any problems.
Disassemble for curing.
14. Position the mirror for curing so that the stud protruding from the
arm now points straight up or position a clamp to hold it in place
during curing.
15. After about a day or so reassemble and enjoy a tight mirror.
Happy views to the rear.
Tom LaLanne
'86 Westy Weekender