Stripped mirror adjusting bolt or mirror.

[Scottjeffrey]

Im finally putting my freshly painted 74 back together and it appears the door mirror's adjustment bolt wants to keep turning. The mirror won't hold its position at highly speeds against the air and moves to a non helpful position.

Has anyone ever heard of or had this problem? Can it be repaired somehow? I am assuming it's not the bolt but the mirror assembly it screws into.

Many Thanks,

Scott in Fort Lauderdale

[John76]

Scott,

Take the mirror off the car, hold it upside down, and twist the base clockwise.

This might tighten the internal spring and ball. Not sure it will work, but worth a try.

John

[Buckeye]

^+1

 

If I recall there there should be a big flat head screw holding arm to the base. I have taken mine apart for cleaning, lubrication and adjustment. Sorry no picture

[dlacey]

Yes, I have had same issue where the thread in the mirror body (partially) strips, I seem to recall fixing it my replacing the original bolt, which has some tapered thread, for a standard ?M4? bolt of same length...since then its fine.

[NYNick]

Mine is doing the same thing...so aggravating.

[Son of Marty]

I don't have a mirror handy, but why can't you use one of the thread repair systems, time sert, heli-coil, or others?

[7502]

My passenger mirror does the same thing to a lesser extent. I have removed it from the door twice and tightened down the screw until it feels tight and then somehow over time it becomes loose.  The mirror is newish just a few years ago and has never been abused or over tightened. Maybe I'm just not tightening it enough when it's off the car. 

 

I'll try John76 idea.  

[John76]

Here's what the innards look like.

 

[7502]

Look familiar, maybe I shouldn't have oiled it?

[John76]

Nope...you want friction.

[2002iii]

I would try some blue loctite.

[Buckeye]

10 hours ago, John76 said:

 

I forgot that is hex head screw instead of flat head screw as I mentioned in my reply.

 

nevertheless, once you take that hex head screw out mirror with its leg will detach from the base. There should be a concave brass washer between mirror leg and the base. 

[Get2theBimmah]

13 hours ago, Buckeye said:

I forgot that is hex head screw instead of flat head screw as I mentioned in my reply.

 

nevertheless, once you take that hex head screw out mirror with its leg will detach from the base. There should be a concave brass washer between mirror leg and the base. 

 

Yep, and keeping that compression/tension of the spring against that concave piece is the name of the game. With enough slack for it to still be persuaded by hand in need of actual adjustment.