Any tips/tricks on how to get a mirror to adjust again?
I have one side view mirror that just doesn't want to budge.
The other likes to bounce on every pothole.
I've tried to get some penetrating oil into the ball the mirror adjusts on.
Hasn't helped yet. I don't want to strongarm it and bend the brackets or rip them out of the door even.
My luck I figure even if I do get it to adjust again it will end up like the other mirror and bounce and fall out of adjustment just because I looked at it wrong.
I plan on just buying new ones but it would be better if I didn't need to.

 

What style mirror is it? There are several different kinds with different head attachments.

 

Might have to heat em up...

 

It is the type 9 style, this picture from a different thread numberdummy posted will give an idea of the style.
Yea heat more PB and patience and luck.

 

Do you see the two phillips head screws on the underside of the mirror? One on each side of the shaft that is bolted to your top mount bar.

They hold a metal tab against that ball up in there. Usually it rusts and breaks, then you get the mirror out and replace that broken rusty piece of metal.

The WD 40/ deep creep/ PB blaster trick might work, but do not force it cause once it breaks its time to remove the glass.

 

The one mirror has 3 phillips on the underside. That one is the floppy one that I need to try and firm up. The seized mirror does not show any screws under it. Only a torx bolt that holds the mirror to the supporting frame. Have not tried to loosen that bolt yet since it looks like it won't "free" the ball it will just loosen the mirror to remove it.

 

I think there is like 9 or 13 different type #9 mirrors....if you can get the glass out in one piece you should be able to firm it up from the inside.

Does the floppy one have 2 rivet heads on the underside in each side of the main mount shaft? If so that is only going to be able to be firmed up from the inside.

I think there is a metal tab that is riveted to the bottom of the mirror housing and it makes pressure on the ball, it gets rusty and then freezes up. You might be able to JB weld it in place?

 

ok will look into seeing what I can do with it. Not sure about the rivets I didn't see them but I haven't done anything more than look and spray.
I appreciate the insight, new mirror heads are not expensive so I'll see what I can do with it and if not, well new garden decoration..

 

my type 9's are almost all effed up in one way or another, and thats out of like 6 that I have or have had. that stupid ball rusts out every damn time. I don't see any way to fix them, unless I'm missing something. The ball breaks off or rusts off inside them and they are done.