A few month back, someone bumped my driver's side mirror in the parking lot at work. When I left work, I noticed the mirror was folded out, but the mirror itself wasn't damaged. I rotated it back in place and drove off. While driving, I noticed it would swing about whenever stopping, turning, or accelerating.
A quick search on MUD revealed much about the shaky mirror syndrome, but not much about swing-dancing mirrors. I removed the mirror to take a look. The diagnosis: a broken post. I didn't have time to try and track down a used mirror of the right color, and the thought of paying Toyota handsomely to replace a part that was not well designed IMO was not an option. I needed a quick fix, one that would be cheap, durable, and permanent. Here's my solution, for what it's worth.
In this photo you can see where the post "ears" have broken off. The retaining clip has nothing to grab onto anymore.
Looking at the bottom; note that the mirror motor wires are routed through the post.
A lock-washer, closed and ground down to fit inside the post and sit on the "lip" seen in the above pic.
A test fit: perfect.
With the washer in place, I ran a bolt through the post.
Here's how it looks underneath.
Applied some grease to the seat of the post.
Reinstalled mirror housing, spring, and retainers.
Added fender washer, then torqued down nut as far as it goes. For this application I chose to use a nylock nut, although some loctite would do the trick otherwise.
Everything assembled, mirror ready to go back on truck.
Mirror mounted on truck, bottom cover off. I had to re-route the motor wires. I was able to snake them through this other opening; fortunately there is enough slack in the stock harness that it is not an issue.
Note: it's been several months and the fix is holding. Mirror moves and feels better than the passenger side mirror.
Matt
A quick search on MUD revealed much about the shaky mirror syndrome, but not much about swing-dancing mirrors. I removed the mirror to take a look. The diagnosis: a broken post. I didn't have time to try and track down a used mirror of the right color, and the thought of paying Toyota handsomely to replace a part that was not well designed IMO was not an option. I needed a quick fix, one that would be cheap, durable, and permanent. Here's my solution, for what it's worth.
In this photo you can see where the post "ears" have broken off. The retaining clip has nothing to grab onto anymore.
Looking at the bottom; note that the mirror motor wires are routed through the post.
A lock-washer, closed and ground down to fit inside the post and sit on the "lip" seen in the above pic.
A test fit: perfect.
With the washer in place, I ran a bolt through the post.
Here's how it looks underneath.
Applied some grease to the seat of the post.
Reinstalled mirror housing, spring, and retainers.
Added fender washer, then torqued down nut as far as it goes. For this application I chose to use a nylock nut, although some loctite would do the trick otherwise.
Everything assembled, mirror ready to go back on truck.
Mirror mounted on truck, bottom cover off. I had to re-route the motor wires. I was able to snake them through this other opening; fortunately there is enough slack in the stock harness that it is not an issue.
Note: it's been several months and the fix is holding. Mirror moves and feels better than the passenger side mirror.
Matt
it is a well-thought-out solve
