Sun visor fix
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2004
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Sun visor fix
I have an 84 F150 and the sun visors are driving me crazy. They will not stay in place. They will droop, run around when you are driving, etc. They are in appearance in good shape, but it seems like the spring has lost its' tension to hold it where it needs to be. i have thought about putting new springs, etc on there or something. Does anyone have any experience with fixing this problem?
Thanks.....
Thanks.....
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 235
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From: Mobile, Alabama
I have an 80 F-350 rated at 9100 LBS that rides rougher than the F-150 and my sun visors refused to stay in place from day one when I bought it in 1981. The sun visors were poorly designed and have no center post to attach them at the ends to prevent them from swinging out every time you drive over any bump or other road irregularity.
The best cure is to get late model sun visors and install them which requires drilling, cutting, etc, to accomodate the upgrade.
My cure, since I don't have a headliner in my truck, was to use velcro on the visor and interior cab roof to at least keep the visors from bouncing around when they are not in use. Once I release the visors from the velcro, however, the poor visor engineering kicks in and the visors travel the arc between the windshield and the side windows at a rate determined by the number of bumps in the road...
The best cure is to get late model sun visors and install them which requires drilling, cutting, etc, to accomodate the upgrade.
My cure, since I don't have a headliner in my truck, was to use velcro on the visor and interior cab roof to at least keep the visors from bouncing around when they are not in use. Once I release the visors from the velcro, however, the poor visor engineering kicks in and the visors travel the arc between the windshield and the side windows at a rate determined by the number of bumps in the road...
Last edited by pknute; Apr 8, 2005 at 10:36 AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 16
From: Kuna ID
On the other side of the bracket that screws into the roof, are 3 plastic tabs that hold the spring, and maintain the level and tension of the visor, when they break, you get what you describe. I had the same problem when I got my 85 F-250. I managed to find replacements in a salvage yard, even got the right color. You may be able to get them new somewhere, could not find the bracket in my NPD catalog for anything made after 79 though, kinda disappointing.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,789
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From: Connecticut
I "wrapped" the fuzzy part of the Velcro around the visor, and a small patch the the "fingers" on the trim. This way if the visor is up, or if I rotate it Down, there is always some of the "fuzzy" to keep in contact with the other part.
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Freshman User
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Just to let you all know how I fixed my problem with these blessed sun visor not staying in place. I took them totally apart, bored out the bracket, made a bushing to fill some of the slop from wear over the years, drilled and tapped a 8/32 hole into the end of the rod and then installed a screw and washer which enabled me to add some pressure to the spring. Installed them back in the ole' truck last night and they worked better than new. They still feel sort of weak, so I think I might replace the spring itself, if they start to move any. For now though they sit straight, right up to the headliner and only move when expected to !!
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 526
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From: Spokane, WA
The was exactly what I was thinking of doing. What kind and size of bushing did you use. Was it steel or Sinthered Bronze (sp?). I was thinking fo tapping the upper stud to use a washer and a nut, but I am not sure there is enough to get the job done.
Sweet...It can be fixed!
Kenny
Sweet...It can be fixed!
Kenny
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2004
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I actually made the bushing out of a 300 series stainless. I left a .200 lip on the top to help it not work itself down and to increase the tension I can add on the spring. There is room to drill and tap an 8/32 hole into the end of the rod that fits up into the cab roof. As far as the OD of the bushing it depends on what size you make the hole.......mine was somewhere around .375....and then just drill the bushing out to fit your rod........the visor rod.......
.....Hope this helps.....
.....Hope this helps.....
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,499
Likes: 1
From: Missoula, MT.
i took mine out and bought sunglasses....
j/k
but i had problems with mine a while back, but it was that they would always slowly work their way down, so i pulled the visor off the rod and bent it a lil bit to increase the tension..all better
j/k
but i had problems with mine a while back, but it was that they would always slowly work their way down, so i pulled the visor off the rod and bent it a lil bit to increase the tension..all better
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 235
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From: Mobile, Alabama
Since my last post, I've discovered the best way to "fix" the cheap sun visors that were installed in Ford F-series trucks from 80-86. I bought two much, much better visors from a 91 F-150 (90-94 are the same) including the end clips, and the visors went in my 1980 F-350 with no modification at all - perfect fit. Installing the clips required drilling holes in the cab roof, but installed in a snap and now my new visors work the way they should have in 1980... Total cost for everything including shipping was $35.00.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 52
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I went to a junk yard and found two red ones just like the ones I had for $20. They had apparently almost never been used since they were very stiff and hard to move. I sprayed some silicone spray into the shaft holes and freed them up. They work very well now and they look almost new.
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