Floppy side mirror
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 84
Likes: 11
Floppy side mirror
OK, I already know there are aftermarket side mirrors but they all give up some function like power fold or heat. We use my 2013 Expedition Ltd. to tow a small travel trailer, and the strap-on tow mirrors do the job fine. But when I meet a semi on a 2-lane and can't get over far enough, the blast of wind from the semi causes the driver's side mirror to fold up. Scared me the first time, I thought the window was broken for sure. When this happens I can activate the power fold to snap it back into the notch but must slow down to under 40mph before it will fold back out. So today I had time and I took the mirror off to see if I can shim the spring or some such thing to make it hold position more firmly. But I can't see any way to get inside the pivot mechanism. Has anyone else been there? Is there any info in the factory manuals about disassembling the side mirror? I hate to put it back together without fixing it but don't want to bugger up a high$$ mirror.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Sounds like the clutch in the mirror is worn out. Only so many times they like being folded manually. To get to the clutch start by removing the mirror cap and the glass. Be warned there is no internal parts sold for these mirrors.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 84
Likes: 11
Yes, I saw that the fold mechanism is not serviceable. Metal parts are heat welded to the plastic body. At the very least it would leave the mirror looking scarred, so I reinstalled it as-is. The clutch is not damaged, it is just designed to protect the mirror from getting broken off. The strap-on tow mirrors increase the leverage applied to it so it folds up in the wind. Clutch consists of two disks with a step pressed across the diameter. I was thinking of increasing spring tension with a shim, but no way to access that. Maybe something like rosin or? to make the disks stick to each other more, but probably I will just live with it. Most big rig drivers will move over to the right when they see me coming doing the same, but once in a while I see one coming and he's not moving from the center line. I can't put my Airstream in the ditch, so if we are both running 78mph, WHAM, the mirror is folded up. Too bad for folks behind me, I then have to slow to about 40mph to fold it back out. I probably should not have posted, it is what it is.
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granny_rocket
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Aug 1, 2012 12:22 PM
