Repairing rear view mirror

[mshobe]

My center rear view mirror was really foggy and wobbling all over the place. Cleaning the glass and mirror was easy, but in reassembly I can't figure out if the night view tilt tab is physically broken or out of place.

I shot a little video to illustrate how it's moving without moving the rest of the mount:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rUPtr85DblnwUGQ03

Should the tilt tab always be physically attached to the mount and have no free play? Sure seems that way because otherwise it's free to move anywhere and wobble around. I read this post about the missing spring - http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic.php?t=11226 - and sure enough I don't see a spring in my assembly. But I don't know if that has anything to do with the tilt tab's currently loose operation.

Also, how would I get the spring back in there? I don't see how to disassemble the backing from the frame. I'd sure like to fix this myself but I can't tell if I've got a viable assembly to work with.

[bobplyler]

I bought a cheap mirror from AutoZone and glued it to the windshield.

[baltobernie]

Also, how would I get the spring back in there?

You would "screw" it in, starting from one end. Kinda like putting a key on a key ring. You can probably buy a couple of loose springs at your local hardware store and see which one fits.

But Bob has the better solution. Unless you're a stickler for originality, a similarly-sized aftermarket mirror is the way to go. Even a brand-new repro Spider mirror jiggles quite a bit.

[mshobe]

Hm - the $100 repro mirror still has the same trouble? Sheesh!

I'm definitely not a stickler on this particular point – I'm just looking for the lowest cost solution to a safe fix, and I was hoping to repair the existing unit. A cheaper, similar-sized replacement from an Auto Parts store can certainly fit the need.

[DieselSpider]

Could be the spring but yours looks like the plastic hinge that attaches the lever to the moving block has snapped. I used a flexible permanent adhesive to replace the thin flexible plastic that was molded between the two parts and it works just fine. Just set them in the relationship that flips the mirror which you appear to be finding in the video, put a small bead of adhesive where they meet and let it set up. You've already done the bulk of the job getting it apart and cleaning things up.

A few dots of black RTV sealant to keep the glass and mirror from rattling about helps too.

[ORFORD2004]

Don't you have a rubber gasket that the mirror fit in????

[mshobe]

@DieselSpider - thank you for confirming what I was never really sure about - that the hinge had snapped! It was impossible to tell if it was working as designed or broken, but I suspected it wasn't right as-is. I'll try your approach - any suggestion of what type of flexible adhesive? Just plain silicone, or is there something more resilient?

[mshobe]

Don't you have a rubber gasket that the mirror fit in????

There are two small rubber grommets at the base of my mirror, but no gasket of any kind surrounding the frame or glass.

[ORFORD2004]

Mine is a replacement that an asshole broke one night... The mirror is 1.5mm instead of the 3mm regular mirror. You need Chinese mirror from $1 shop.