Easy fix for rattling mirror glass

BigIslandSevens · 10-19-2009, 10:43 AM

Hey all,

My mirror glass( L & R) were rattling something fierce. It drove me crazy. So I decided to try to end the issue. I tried glue:=Fail

What I ended up doing was buying a $4.00 can of "great Stuff" insulating foam from Lowe's. I then drilled a 1/4 inch hole in the bottom of each mirror. Stick the end of the can's straw into the hole and I filled it until the foam blew back out the hole. NOW! This foam is expanding!! So be sure you have a big enough hole to let the gases escape and the foam expand. The foam can and will deform the plastic surrounds if not able to vent. And/OR Break the glass itself)

Mine turned out great. NO more rattle at all in my hands. You may need to trim some foam that comes around the glass off, but it trims really easy. A paper clip did it for me

Anyways, 4 dollars and less than 20 minutes of work time involved, and no more rattle. I am painting the mirrors now, but unless you need to just be carefull and it will turn out clean.

Dave

BigIslandSevens · 10-19-2009, 05:54 PM

UPDATE: Again, make sure to keep a vent hole open. My passenger side clogged up and about 20 hrs later just exploded in front of me on the bench

Kinda expected one to blow. Trying to keep the other vent hole clear.

FWIW: It didn't rattle at all before it blew to pieces

rx4ur7 · 10-20-2009, 12:24 PM

A little less messy method is to remove the mirror, just the mirror part, pop out the two spring roll pins, use something to open them up a bit. A nail, awl, a couple of those little snap-on pocket screw drivers. Pop them back in, install mirror. Have done this on nearly all my clients cars. If they are tough to get back in place you have it right.

They can also be done while still in place. Generally you may have to have a couple of tries at that way though because you can not get the end splayed as much as one needs. And they usually pop out on you anyway.

When it comes time to do repair to the wiring or switch this procedure might make that a lot easier.

OPPS Sorry, this is for the interior mirror. But if you do that don't you loose the ability to adjust them?

I think there are some other things I might try this on though. Thanks. .

BigIslandSevens · 10-20-2009, 01:14 PM

That repair is for electric mirrors? If so then yes i do not reccomend using the foam filler method.
Mine are 81 non electric mirrors. Not sure if the same thing can be done. I don't see any spring roll pin on the inside of the one that broke that can be stretched. It only made a real mess when it blew up

It was an experiment for me. No harm no foul. The glass is cheap to replace.

Project10AE · 10-20-2009, 04:30 PM

use the great stuff in the blue can and dont put so much in and it will work much better... unless you want another show haha

BigIslandSevens · 10-20-2009, 05:51 PM

It was my fault that it blew up. I failed to clear the hole. I cleaned the housing out today and there really wasn't much foam in there. It was the gases that just made something give. Drivers side worked perfectly

t_g_farrell · 10-21-2009, 12:35 PM

I used that stuff when I was plugging up holes in my bonus room build above the garage. It keeps expanding for a long time. I had to come back an trim it the next day after it settled down.

Jeezus · 10-22-2009, 11:04 PM

Is there anything for electric mirrors? I know there are 2 phillips screws under the mirror body. They are pretty tight as is and I wouldn't want to strip them. I can't tell what car is behind me because it shakes so bad!

BigIslandSevens · 10-23-2009, 04:22 AM

Hey Stu, I beleive that for the electric mirrors you use the process described by rx4ur7 above.^^

10-19-2009, 10:43 AM	#1
BigIslandSevens Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver, NC Posts: 201 Rep Power: 18	Easy fix for rattling mirror glass Hey all, My mirror glass( L & R) were rattling something fierce. It drove me crazy. So I decided to try to end the issue. I tried glue:=Fail What I ended up doing was buying a $4.00 can of "great Stuff" insulating foam from Lowe's. I then drilled a 1/4 inch hole in the bottom of each mirror. Stick the end of the can's straw into the hole and I filled it until the foam blew back out the hole. NOW! This foam is expanding!! So be sure you have a big enough hole to let the gases escape and the foam expand. The foam can and will deform the plastic surrounds if not able to vent. And/OR Break the glass itself) Mine turned out great. NO more rattle at all in my hands. You may need to trim some foam that comes around the glass off, but it trims really easy. A paper clip did it for me Anyways, 4 dollars and less than 20 minutes of work time involved, and no more rattle. I am painting the mirrors now, but unless you need to just be carefull and it will turn out clean. Dave

10-20-2009, 12:24 PM	#3
rx4ur7 Rotary since 1972 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tucson Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	A little less messy method is to remove the mirror, just the mirror part, pop out the two spring roll pins, use something to open them up a bit. A nail, awl, a couple of those little snap-on pocket screw drivers. Pop them back in, install mirror. Have done this on nearly all my clients cars. If they are tough to get back in place you have it right. They can also be done while still in place. Generally you may have to have a couple of tries at that way though because you can not get the end splayed as much as one needs. And they usually pop out on you anyway. When it comes time to do repair to the wiring or switch this procedure might make that a lot easier. OPPS Sorry, this is for the interior mirror. But if you do that don't you loose the ability to adjust them? I think there are some other things I might try this on though. Thanks. . Last edited by rx4ur7; 10-22-2009 at 12:21 PM.

10-20-2009, 01:14 PM	#4
BigIslandSevens Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver, NC Posts: 201 Rep Power: 18	That repair is for electric mirrors? If so then yes i do not reccomend using the foam filler method. Mine are 81 non electric mirrors. Not sure if the same thing can be done. I don't see any spring roll pin on the inside of the one that broke that can be stretched. It only made a real mess when it blew up It was an experiment for me. No harm no foul. The glass is cheap to replace. Last edited by BigIslandSevens; 10-20-2009 at 01:18 PM.

10-21-2009, 12:35 PM	#7
t_g_farrell Waffles - hmmm good Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Huntersville, NC Posts: 757 Rep Power: 0	I used that stuff when I was plugging up holes in my bonus room build above the garage. It keeps expanding for a long time. I had to come back an trim it the next day after it settled down. __________________ 1980 GS stockport, Fat Nikki, RB Dual Facetfuel pumps, Holley regulator, RB Street port exhaust, 2GDFIS, MR2 MK I electric fans, 2G strut bar, relayed fans, lights and fuel pump, LEDs Project Fat Nikki Budget 12A rebuild Video setup < $30.00

10-19-2009, 05:54 PM	#2
BigIslandSevens Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver, NC Posts: 201 Rep Power: 18	UPDATE: Again, make sure to keep a vent hole open. My passenger side clogged up and about 20 hrs later just exploded in front of me on the bench Kinda expected one to blow. Trying to keep the other vent hole clear. FWIW: It didn't rattle at all before it blew to pieces

10-20-2009, 04:30 PM	#5
Project10AE Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 42 Rep Power: 0	use the great stuff in the blue can and dont put so much in and it will work much better... unless you want another show haha

10-20-2009, 05:51 PM	#6
BigIslandSevens Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver, NC Posts: 201 Rep Power: 18	It was my fault that it blew up. I failed to clear the hole. I cleaned the housing out today and there really wasn't much foam in there. It was the gases that just made something give. Drivers side worked perfectly

10-22-2009, 11:04 PM	#8
Jeezus The Newbie Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	Is there anything for electric mirrors? I know there are 2 phillips screws under the mirror body. They are pretty tight as is and I wouldn't want to strip them. I can't tell what car is behind me because it shakes so bad!

10-23-2009, 04:22 AM	#9
BigIslandSevens Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver, NC Posts: 201 Rep Power: 18	Hey Stu, I beleive that for the electric mirrors you use the process described by rx4ur7 above.^^