Vanagon ‘floppy mirror syndrome’ CURED!

msinabottle · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:33 pm Post subject: Gently on those Screws!

I think a product such as Liquid Wrench or Kroil might be easier on the plastic of the mirrors. I'm not sure PB Blaster would be... Not sure about WD-40, which I consider one of the least effective penetrants, although useful in other ways.

You could also try a ratchet with a bit holder and an extender, perpendicular torque is often much better than what a screwdriver or an impact driver can do.

Best!
_________________
'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence."

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50353

Not the prettiest idea, but putting a screw clamp around the cracked base of the mirror can make the mirror stay in place and you don't have to deal with removing the screws. You need a quality clamp that you can tighten to the max. I used two short clamps on each side rather than one longer one, figuring I could get the pressure more even that way. I did both the mirrors on my 83 1/2 junker two or three years ago and they stay in place well.

To remove the mounting screws, a hand impact driver is the tool of choice. Just don't whack the driver so hard that you dent your door.

Neptuno · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 12:03 pm Post subject:

Hey hey...... just wanted to mention that I to am a convert of the church of pluming washers of the order of the ex-floppy mirror.......

Can I get an Amen?

el t
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Lonely Vanagon running up and down Delco

MarkWard · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 12:21 pm Post subject:

The fix will not work on the cheap knock off mirrors sold on eBay. I finally gave up. I did purchase one Hagus brand mirror and new is 100% better than the cheap replicas. The design is poor at best. My 68 camper had the original mirrors on it when I sold it last summer. I toyed with purchasing a set of used stock electic mirrors, but that is a pricey solution too.
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☮️

GMByers · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:57 pm Post subject:

Imagine my excitement when I learned that the great VW community had a name and cure for my mirror ailment. "floppy mirror syndrome" and the cure was a 27 euro cent rubber washer from the plumbing section.

don912 · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:23 pm Post subject:

WiscoKidd · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:04 pm Post subject:

foodeater · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:23 pm Post subject:

This method fixed one of my mirrors (original), but not the other (replacement)
I found some cheap used power mirrors, and no more worries.
_________________
89 Bluestar-2.5 Subaru Powered-RIP
'84 Westy Tiico-daily driver-sold
'82 Caddy diesel-sold
'87 Vanagon Syncro-RIP
'81 diesel rabbit-sold
'82 Vanagon auto-RIP

BoneStock67 · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:41 pm Post subject:

I just did the floppy mirror fix on my driver's side, using the Hillman brand washers from Lowes, as recommended by Hiram6. Although I was a bit disappointed that the washers cost me 98 cents instead of the reported 75 cents, somehow I got over it and have now joined the club of happy non-floppy cartilaginous mirror owners.

One thing is that it was not as easy as I thought it would be to pull the lower hemisphere off of the hexagonal shaft. I needed a lot of wd-40 and patience, and I kept scaring myself that I was going to break the plastic base with all that pulling, but finally it came apart. Also, it took me two tries to find the right tension on the spring nut, but now it works great.

Thanks HerrBGone. You may BGone (haven't logged on in a half a year), but your memory lives on here in the halls of The Samba.
_________________
1986 Wolfsburg Westfalia Weekender 2.1L stock
1967 Beetle, now becoming my daily driver again, after a long rest in the garage

"There are two possible outcomes: if the result confirms the hypothesis, then you've made a measurement. If the result is contrary to the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery.” -Enrico Fermi

?Waldo? · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 8:11 pm Post subject:

To all those who have said that the fix does not work on cheap replacement mirrors I would reiterate the essence of my previous post on the subject. The replacement mirrors do not have the central stud pinned to the body of the mirror. Because of that, the stud can pull out of the mirror. It is quite easy to drill a small hole through the plastic and stud and pound in a finish nail. I have done so on several mirrors and combined with the rubber washers is a very effective permanent fix even for the cheap replacements.

Andrew

ZimZam · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:57 pm Post subject: best $ ever spent

Drove into 40 mph headwind and mirrors didn't budge. Who'd of thunk. Another satisfied customer. Only on thesamba! Very Happy

_________________
'85 Cabriolet (Margo)
'87 Westy (Heidi)
'75 Porsche 911S Targa

"Nobody trusts anyone, or why did they put tilt on a pinball machine.”
- Steve McQueen
"It's just metal, when rusted and dented , anything you will do will be better. Stop being afraid. What they (VW) did many year ago is not better then what you will do now." -Ben

vwtopia · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:59 am Post subject:

Finally had my air compressor going this weekend so put a phillips bit on my impact wrench and was able to get the screws out without damaging them. Had my wife pick up a rubber washer (the size mentioned) at the local ACE Hardware and now my mirror stays in place. Best 21 cents I have ever spent.

vwgrl1999 · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:04 am Post subject:

Floppy mirrors? We don't need no floppy mirrors.

I love thesamba....this fix is a miracle!!
_________________
Current VW's:
1987 Vanagon GL
1999 New Beetle
Past VW's:
1980 Westy
1971 Beetle
1974 Super Beetle

DAIZEE · Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:35 pm Post subject: floppy mirrors

What a good thread I was directed to when I asked a question about "fatique" in the mirrors. Floppy is so much more descriptive and I love the washer solution as nothing wrong otherwise. Can it stand up to constant 70 mph long time driving? Passenger side only slightly weak but seems to hold. Will probably do both.

Now that you've all helped me out with my floppy fatiqued mirrors, tell me will the same thing work for my hips? Laughing

Bought an 84 Westy and took it on 4000 mile (no not km) mile trip 3 weeks later. Of course I'm addicted to it now and wish it would warm up ddown south so I could take off again. Rolling Eyes

Oh and I love my window wings. My van is missing the compressor for the A/C and I oh so love these old fashioned gals. Can also have them open in the rain. I'm big on fresh air.

buttonwagon · Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 1:10 pm Post subject:

THANKS!!
Just did the fix.

The previous owner had tried epoxy and a ring-clamp with no luck. Most of my repair time was spent scraping bits of glue off the joint.

Smile

indytriple · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:37 pm Post subject:

On the off chance some of you cyclists out there have some carbon fiber assembly paste/gel:

http://www.finishlineusa.com/products/fiber_grip.htm

It fixed my floppy mirror syndrom pronto. I took the mirror apart and put a healthy dose of it where the ball and socket surfaces meet Been going strong for over six months now.
_________________
"See The Glass As Already Broken."

87 Vanagon Westy Auto Bostig

www.bluegrassbicyclecompany.com

Ahwahnee · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:10 pm Post subject:

This seems to have helped mine though (contrary to a post above) the shaft is not 'pinned'. They are marked as originals (Audi/VW logo) and the shaft wants to pull out if the nut is torqued pretty good. I used JBWeld to try to secure that shaft but drilling and using a roll pin may be the way to go.

dhaavers · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 12:39 pm Post subject:

Just took care of mine with a layer of bicycle inner tube cut to size...CHEAP & SNUG!
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

bluebus86 · Banned Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075

this is such a freaking cool idea THANKS!!!! Been fighting the loose mirror for too long!!! Very Happy

RHMoore · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 12:57 pm Post subject:

I thought my mirror is original, but my centrail stud pulled out. The JB Weld fix did not work. I then drilled out the hole all the way through and replaced the central stud with a long bolt from Home Depot. It holds now.
_________________
85 Wolfsburg Westy Weekender w/ Subaru 2.2


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Vanagon ‘floppy mirror syndrome’ CURED!
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