Me wing mirrors are loose ... Help!!

Post by **schmood** » 20 Sep 2007, 10:28

Can anybody help. My nearside wing mirror slowly folds in as I drive so that I can't use it. Obviously its wind resistence caused by my excessive speed!

I've tightened the screws on the mirrors foot holding it to the van body, and although this has slowed it down, the mirror eventually still folds in.

Can anybody help? I don't want to get side swiped by someone I never saw sneaking up on my inside!

All the best, Schmood

Post by **lhd** » 20 Sep 2007, 10:35

New ones or glue them.
When they get tightened to much the plastic base splits and it doesn't matter how much you tighten them, they just split some more....
Rob...

Post by **ermie571** » 20 Sep 2007, 10:35

Hi Schmood,

1. remove mirror from van
2. turn upside down (the mirror, not the van!)
3. tighten bolt inside
4. replace mirror on van
5. swear cos its too tight and you can't now adjust it at all!!!

Hope this helps
Emma

Post by **toomanytoys** » 20 Sep 2007, 11:50

You might find in the middle of Emma's instructions... prudent to undo nut and rub the friction surfaces of the ball and socket with fine emery/snad paper.. then do the not up but not too tight... refit to van..

Post by **ttcharlie** » 20 Sep 2007, 13:02

Old Wing mirrors- been there, tightened them, split them swore etc etc.

GSF - £11 each, need I say anymore....

Post by **coilspring** » 20 Sep 2007, 14:00

extra long bungee from outside lip of one mirror, stretched across windscreen to outside lip of other mirror. You may need to do 80 mph for the wind resistance to move the mirrors back enough so you can use them but a cheap way of stopping them moving in.....

Only joking. I have a good second hand / almost new pair you can have in exchange for a few pints if you need 'em.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 20 Sep 2007, 14:45

New ones can actually be worse.. hence the sand paper trick.. you dont need to tighten so much then...

Oh.. and dont bother getting the flat ones.. you need "convex" ones... the flat ones might as well not be there... total crap...

Post by **VWCamperfan** » 20 Sep 2007, 14:58

I'll vouch for the flat ones being crap... Can only see what you're looking at out of one eye, the other one just looks at the side panels of the van!

Post by **schmood** » 20 Sep 2007, 16:42

Thanks for all your advice - these folding wingies are new ones!! The old ones were immovable, but once positioned at least you could see out of the bits that still had a mirrored surface left. Now all I can see is my paintwork and the tarmac rushing past at great speed!

I will try taking them off and tightening the bolt, and see if I can then see the whites of the eyes of the guy trying to undertake me!

Fingers crossed, and thanks for all your help

Post by **Cruz** » 20 Sep 2007, 21:19

Remove the nut and put some washers under so you then can't over tighten it and strip the thread

Post by **Crumbly** » 27 Sep 2007, 16:20

We had the same problem on our way to France 2yrs ago. At the ferry terminal a couple of fellow van owners saw me moving the limp mirror about and

attached a jubilee clip to the gap between the fixing and the mirror arm (I guess the ball fixing?) and solved the problem straight away. It still holds the mirror even at 70mph!!

Post by **R0B** » 27 Sep 2007, 16:33

if you take the nut and spring off there is a half ball shaped piece of metal take this off.you should be left with a tapered shaft.emery this.as rust often stops the half ball from sliding down the shaft properly.therefore not letting you tighten the nut properly...a touch of grease on the shaft when re assembling is a good idea...

Post by **toomanytoys** » 27 Sep 2007, 18:48

What I already said and they are "new"....