My '95 XLT has the mostly-plastic "aerodynamic" mirrors with chrome back panel. Up here in the northeast, the pivots corrode and then the mirror won't fold (or the plastic breaks when you try to fold it). I've replaced mine a few times with junkyard ones; the last time, I got one that was motorized. Recently some Chevy driver sideswiped my mirror with his; his caved in his door; my mirror folded (like it was supposed to), but it broke the internals where the mirror attaches to the motor.

The mirror otherwise seems intact, so I was hoping to swap the "guts" out of one of my old mirrors (with broken pivots) into my new mirror (replacing the motor assembly with a manual one). The trouble is, I can't see how to remove the mirror element out of the mirror assembly.

Is there a trick to taking these mirrors apart?

 

not that expensive to buy a new elec. mirror on ebay.

 

I take it you don't know how to disassemble one either?

 

Ok........

i do know how to take them apart, but they are harder to put back together sometimes.

i have ford manuals and i am telling you that it is easier to replace them.

good luck doing your repair.

 

I guess it's always easier to buy new than to fix old.
And you're right; taking it apart is probably easy (a sledge hammer would work)...but the trick is being able to put it back together so that it'll work.

I'd appreciate it if you'd share your knowledge about how to both disassemble and reassemble. As cheap as new ones might be ($38 on ebay), if it's possible to take apart the two half-broken ones I've got and reassemble one good one, it'll only cost me time (and $0). I'd just as soon keep the $38 in my wallet.

Thanks,
Bill

 

Why not just go junk yard a new pair, see LOTS of them in the wrecking yard.

 

As it's not looking likely that there's a non-destructive way to take these mirrors apart, I'll probably buy a junkyard one again.

 

How will that help?

It's not the parts, it's the climate. Finding used junkyard ones will most likely run into the same problem as the original problem the OP had.

If you do find a good one that isn't corroded, I'd lube it and fold them once in a while to keep things greased and moving.

 

How stupid you are depends on what part of the country your standing in!, we dont have the corrosion issues you guys have. Stuff in the J-yards here that has been out there for years still looks great here, we have cars from the mid 70s driving around here that look better than 3-4 year old cars back east!.

 

Man, that's mean. Adding insult to injury
It must be nice not having to deal with rust. Then again, you'd never learn to love PB Blaster, broken bolt extractors, sheet metal patches,...

Oldjunk '93 -- I like the color combo on your avatar -- same color's as on my '95.

 

I feel for you bud!......I do like the smell of PB Blaster, spray it around the shop just to make it seem like some work was going on!......No, no rust here, but I bet you never get moss growing on your truck there!.

 

New England winters are tough on everything.If you don't feel like wrestling with the old one,we have replacements for you,we're in Mass also. Ford Truck Mirrors

Tony