Side View Mirror Wobbling

priscillabrougham · #1 (**permalink**) 09-21-09, 11:38 AM

I just bought a pair of great looking side view mirrors for my 88 Brougham. The drivers mirror works perfectly. The passenger side mirror works great, but the glass is loose in the mirror. It moves in all directions with the little remote joystick.

I hate to go find yet a third passenger side view mirror, as this one is as close to NOS as I think I'm going to get.

Is there a way to tighten the glass on these at all? They look pretty sealed.

Angry Matt · #2 (**permalink**) 09-21-09, 06:58 PM

There are three cables going to the metal pan that the glass is glued to. They move in and out of the cable that comes from the dash. One is probably broken or disconnected. They are kind of a pain to take apart and adjust properly. I just rewired a few and getting the glass off the pan is hit or miss. Some will pop right off and some will just break, depending on the glue from the factory. If you lean the mirror straight up you will see a phillips head screw behind the glass. That will take the pan and glass off of the joint. Then you have to pry the glass off the pan, unless the cable can be slid back into place. Once you see the back of it you'll understand, it's not that complicated, just tedious. Personally I'd go to the yard and get another one. There may be easier ways to fix this, I have a thing for making stuff difficult.

priscillabrougham · #3 (**permalink**) 09-22-09, 12:35 PM

Angry Matt:

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I went ahead and took the bracket out. Yes, I did break the glass. However, the $20 replacement is cheaper than the $50-$100 replacement mirror.

All three cable end caps are secured to the cables, but it looks like time may have wornout the caps being secured to the pan. It looks like a dab of JB Weld on the small caps should secure these cables to the pan, then I'll just glue the new mirror glass onto the pan. Voila!

I really appreciate your help!

Angry Matt · #4 (**permalink**) 09-22-09, 07:33 PM

$50-$100? Search u-pull it yards if you can find any near you. I pay under $10 for the complete mirror, it just takes time to find nice ones. Sounds like you got it under control though. Good luck and careful with the joint when putting it back together, I've had them snap on me too. Some years they used plastic.

sven914 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-23-09, 08:19 PM

I suppose this is somewhat related:

My heated drivers mirror no longer heats up to melt the snow and ice off it. I was told that there was no way to just replace the heated glass. I was told that I had to replace the entire mirror assembly (chrome and all). Is this true or can I get just the mirror glass and a new heater element?

Angry Matt · #6 (**permalink**) 09-23-09, 09:10 PM

I've removed the heater elements, but never tested them after. They're glued to the back of the glass and they usually look pretty rough by the time they come apart. You could replace the whole glass/element/pan without taking that apart, but in the bunch I've taken apart this summer (all to get one nice thermometer mirror), each of the joint setups were different. Some are plastic, some use a bar, some a ball and so on... I'm going to go look through my stuff. I think I have what should a few good elements.