97 Landcruiser aka 97 LX450 Mirror Fix

[DRACO 911]

Hey Fellas,

Noob her but old timer DIYer

So I wanted to post my ghetto fix for loose/broken mirrors for the LC and LX.

While taking the mirror apart to replace it, I found the notch that holds the retainer and lock had sheered off :-(

Brain fart, drill a 3.25 MM hole and use a piece of hanger wire sharpened at one end to slip thru the hole.




Voila! Fixed

P.S. I know I know post a pic, but she is brutally dirty, I am ashamed, will post after fixen and washing

 

[DRACO 911]

Yeah, you are seeing correctly, those are zip ties, 4 to be exact to help compress the spring, will eventually wear out and drop out

 

[Formulaonehd]

Nice one, there is a good tutorial on youtube from a guy who does it on the side of the road as well. Shakey mirrors should be added to the list of faults, up there with the PHH

 

[DRACO 911]

Shaky mirror is a result of those upper tabs crumbling away. I JB welded those suckers. Double sided tape just don't last.

 

[Golgo13]

Why hasn't @NLXTACY offered a machined bullet replacement for this yet?

 

[TheRareElement]

While taking the mirror apart to replace it, I found the notch that holds the retainer and lock had sheered off :-(

Brain fart, drill a 3.25 MM hole and use a piece of hanger wire sharpened at one end to slip thru the hole.

Or, you can make two new slits for the C-clip (lock) at 90 degree to the original sheared slits and at the same level, using a dremmel cutting wheel and a small flat file (careful not to go in too deep), insert the spring & retainer, compress the spring, slip the c-clip into the new slits and that should do it. While at and before doing the fix, remove the 3 small steel balls below the spring, clean everything good & grease well both the bottom & upper spring retainer plates. I think the main cause of this failing (notch sheared) is lack of lubrication. I'll try to post a few pics when I take my mirror apart. Here is a pic of the special tool I made for compressing the spring, used two small pieces of wood and a screw-type wood clamp to compress the spring. Mine has been holding on now for about 3 years.

 

[DRACO 911]

Lube? Good idea, will spray some bicycle chain lube on the retaining balls