Loose Rear View Mirror

[briscuba]

Hi,
I am restoring 1970 CST C10. I bought a replacement (new) rear view mirror from Brothers or LMC, not sure. I cannot seem to get it to tighten where the male end of mirror inserts into the female part of the stem (which connects to the roof of cab). I screwed the screw in tight as can be, but mirror does not snug up, and falls down by its weight and gravity.

Suggestions? Shim?

Thanks,
Brian

[leftybass209]

Do you have the original plate that secures it? I have an original and I can tighten it so well I think I'd bend the arm before that ball and socket rotated.

[briscuba]

Hi,
Not sure what you mean by plate..? It's where the screw tightens that mirror arm to the receiver arm that goes to the roof. Ball socket seems fine, it's sliding down inside the little channel that the screw should tighten. Does that make sense? Sorry I don't have a pic.

[leftybass209]

It makes sense. There is a black plate that holds the housing to the silver backplate, then bolts to the roof. Do you have an original mirror that you can pirate the top plate from?

[briscuba]

I might have the original, it's kinda nasty and that was why I got a new one. I am learning that OEM replacements are not always perfect, and just a few centimeters can make the difference in situations like this. Thanks for help!

Brian

[knomadd]

It sounds like you two are talking about different points. I may be missing it, but it sounds like Brian is talking about the joint between the mirror and the arm, not the ball joint on the mirror or the roof mount joint. There is simply a screw that slides through one side of the "arm" and through the mirror connector (how the ball joint is held to the arm), then tightens on the threaded side of the arm. I don't think you can do much to get this connection tighter. You may try adding a shim to make the gap between the arm and mirror connection tighter. Just a thought.

If I understand your question correctly, and this is really what you're asking about, I too am curious how you'd fix this, so let us know how you fix it.

[briscuba]

Yes, sorry about the confusion, but yes tightening that screw to the max will not hold it in place. I think the other fellow had a good point, switch out the entire backing - including arm. Original parts may have been thicker allowing screw to actually tighten effectively.

Ok, I am gonna shim it and take some pics.

Thanks, all good info!
Brian

[leftybass209]

Oh that part of it! There's a little black spring clip you can buy to help that. I have it for mine, and it helps the adjustment screw to tighten up so the mirror will not sag on the arm. Check some of the board vendors out I'm sure they have it. This is a link to the part I'm referring to http://www.classicparts.com/searchprods.asp

[briscuba]

Yeah, that's the part. What is a board vendor? Will a local auto parts store carry it maybe?

Thanks guys!!

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by leftybass209

Oh that part of it! There's a little black spring clip you can buy to help that. I have it for mine, and it helps the adjustment screw to tighten up so the mirror will not sag on the arm. Check some of the board vendors out I'm sure they have it. This is a link to the part I'm referring to http://www.classicparts.com/searchprods.asp

I assume you meant this part? 1960-71-Inside-Mirror-Arm-Stud-Bushing

Originally Posted by briscuba

Yeah, that's the part. What is a board vendor?

A board vendor is someone who sells parts here on the forum (board). Usually a business instead of a private seller.

[leftybass209]

Originally Posted by knomadd

I assume you meant this part? 1960-71-Inside-Mirror-Arm-Stud-Bushing

A board vendor is someone who sells parts here on the forum (board). Usually a business instead of a private seller.

Yes that's what I meant, and somehow it worked yesterday as the OP was able to view, but I don't know what happened today. I'll chalk it up to more phone "copy and paste" problems.

[knomadd]

yeah, technology can be a pain sometimes. I guess I'll have to include that in my next parts order. It's really annoying trying to adjust a mirror that doesn't like to stay put.

[kitsbeach]

Bringing up this old thread because I just fixed mine. I would have never guessed there was a little bushing in there if I hadn't found this thread (my eyes aren't good enough to have spotted it.

I've pasted a couple of pictures here of my parts. I didn't buy a new bushing. Just took it out and squished it a bit and rotated it in the hole in the mirror arm. I figured mine was just worn thin and rotating it might get me the friction I needed to hold the mirror arm and I was right. Works like a charm now.!

[Smitty]

Thanks guys! You just provided the answer I've been looking for. Now I can cross another little gremlin off my list. It's been driving me nuts.

[bill3rail]

Originally Posted by briscuba

Hi,
I am restoring 1970 CST C10. I bought a replacement (new) rear view mirror from Brothers or LMC, not sure. I cannot seem to get it to tighten where the male end of mirror inserts into the female part of the stem (which connects to the roof of cab). I screwed the screw in tight as can be, but mirror does not snug up, and falls down by its weight and gravity.

Suggestions? Shim?

Thanks,
Brian

I had a similar problem and posted my fix HERE.

Bill

[knomadd]

I've read Bill's link. He used a wave washer (I've heard of them referred to as "spring washers" by some old timers) between the two arms as a shim. It's just a part that helps with the friction needed to hold the arm steady. (pic from his post)


The "stud bushing" shown and linked from before does the same thing. It just introduces friction around the screw/stud and hole of the mirror arm, rather than between the two arm surfaces. The screw stays put with the roof mounted arm (what it threads into), so providing friction between the screw and the hole in the mirror arm helps keep it steady. (See post from Kitsbeach above)

Same results with two objects that control the problem from different locations.

[tim_mc]

My mirror is loose, but it's at the cam that swings the mirror up or down for night driving. I fiddled with it and think I was able to tighten it up by using a small drift/punch to carefully pry the case out around the slotted opening for the lever. I started on the edge closed to the mirror, then worked my way around to the outside so that I could use the edge of the mirror for leverage.