Door mirror refurbishment

[ptjs1]

I know that a number of you have done this before, so I'm hoping that a number of you have the answer!

I'm just starting the refurb of both my door mirrors which have had a bit of play in the body to mount. As the mirrors have become a little sloppy, I've always presumed that the collars have seized to the shaft. I've therefore haven't tried to fold them back since this happened, but have now decided that i want to sort them.

I've removed the passenger side mirror and replaced it with a spare one. Naturally the first job is to remove the castellated / serrated spring clip. Early efforts have proved unsuccessful but I'm reluctant to cut it off or destroy it until I know that I can replace it. I'm also assuming that if the lower collar is seized then I might have to replace that as well.

For those who have done the job, can anyone tell me where they sourced a suitable collar and replacement spring clip?

Tks

Paul

[Brakebuster]

as far as i know, they can't be refurbished to a satisfactory result

the tube from the mirror body passes through the base and is held by the cir-clip , this clip is single use only , and will be destroyed by removing it ,

the clip holds a spring between the two mirror parts allowing the mirror to move on the base, the movement is restricted by three pips on the body which match cutouts in the base ,

if you move the mirror round on the base you will see it lift off the base , showing the ' pips '

this will all come apart , and if the tube isn't corroded could possibly be put back together, but it will need to be pressed together under tension and then a new cir-clip pushed onto the tube , if you can find one that fits......

there are several new mirrors available on the net , its the best option in my opinion

BB

[ptjs1]

Vince,

That was also my presumption - that I could end up with a useless mirror.

However, I seem to have had an incredible afternoon of luck!

Judicious use of 2 screwdrivers and some protective rag and I was able to persuade the serrated spring retaining washer to let go intact. With the spring off, i could see the spring seating tube stuck on the mirror shaft.



I sealed the bottom edge of the tube with blutack and then made a well of anti-corrosion lubricant. After an hour of wiggling the mirror mounting base against the tube, incredibly I eventually managed to get the tube free of the mirror shaft.



With the tube and the shaft cleaned and lubricated, I can now fit it all together.




So, I have one problem left. How do I compress the spring and drift the serrated washer back onto the shaft?

I don't really want to clamp the mirror in a vice. I've done the usual thing of staring around the garage aimlessly thinking that I must have the equivalent of an open-walled socket or similar that I could use to drift the washer onto the shaft.

I might leave it for tonight and go back into the garage tomorrow. There must be something in there somewhere! If only I could remember where I put that tool for removing brake shoe springs........

Paul

[Brakebuster]

well done m8 ,

i got to that stage to..........



and then bought new mirrors, lol

but good luck


BB

( all the bits are still in a drawer in the garage...... )

[J44EAG]

Paul,

Can you compress the spring using cable ties then cut and remove once you have the clip back on?
Perhaps compress the spring in a vice or use a g-clamp before fitting ties?

Mike

[ptjs1]

Mike,

Tks for the suggestion, but unfortunately it's not really practical.

It's only a 3.5 coil spring so you can't compress just the middle bit. I've tried compressing and wiring the whole thing but the wires then fouled on the mount so I couldn't fit the spring. I might try with thinner wire but I still think that I won't be able to release the wire as the spring washer will trap it once fitted.

So I think I'll just have to clamp the mirror carefully and grind a wall section out of a piece of tubing and then try and drift the washer on (assuming it doesn't bend and snap anyway!).

The good news is that at least I know how to try and do the other side next!

Being the much rarer body-coloured mirrors, it's difficult and expensive to get hold of used mirrors and I'd have to get them sprayed which is also difficult if you don't take the mirror apart! So, damned if you do and damned if you don't!

Paul

[Brakebuster]

brand new from Jaguar £38.69 RH in primer.............complete ( full electrics and mirror )

JLM10608


where i got my new ones from


BB


maybe i should keep that quite, and make a fortune on ebay ??

[Brakebuster]

i also fitted BDC8155 @£2.19 behind each mirror to door and do away with the ' bear nuts ' that spin out in the door skin


BB

[ptjs1]

Vince,

Those are pre-facelift mirrors available at that price. Different wiring but I also have read that they are a fractionally different shape. As the mount door rubber is quite different, I wonder if the shape of the mirror mount is different.

Even the facelift cars have variations. There is a different plinth fitted on very late cars (although I'm not sure what is the difference) and the very late mirror part numbers are different again. There are no RHD new chrome or primer mirrors currently available. There are some LHD ones, but the glass profile is different (convex / flat).

I only have spare facelift mirrors, so I need to look at a range of mirrors in detail to verify the differences!

The very late cars have those internal riveted strengthener plates fitted as standard, so at least I have one thing in my favour!

Paul

[Popsjag]

Paul,

In reference to your 'retaining clip', these are usually rendered useless once removed because they distort & weaken once removed.

They are called starlock washers & you can get new ones (hopefully in the size you need) on the infamous ebay.

Instead of trying to compress the spring, would it work if you had a hollow tube vertical in a vice, placed the starlock washer on top, then the spring & then pushed the mirror/shaft physically down on to it with brute force?

Just a thought. (another thought - don't slip & do yourself an injury!).

Steve.

[ptjs1]

Steve,

Tks for the heads-up on the washer type. Good to know that I can source it easy if I do distort the original washer.

The "upside-down hollow tube" principle might work, but I'll still have to cut the tube wall open as the wiring plugs are too big to pass through the appropriate diameter tube.

I might try really thin locking wire and see if I can tie the spring first. Not too hopeful!

Cheers

Paul

[Brakebuster]

the pins can be removed form the plugs with a fine tool , just note their postion for reassembly , the pinned wiring will then pass through the tube

look down the pin and you will see a locking tab , just move this back and the pin will come out of the plug , needs a wiggle though , and some swearing, and bloodied fingers.........

BB

[ptjs1]

BB,

Tks for the suggestion. Not for the first time, I sometimes wish I had a pre-facelift car! The facelift wiring plugs are different and are those type where they "seal" each wire in a round tube with some sort of plastic seal block. I think the only way would be to cut and remake each wire, which I don't really want to do.

Time to go and stare aimlessly around the garage again until inspiration strikes me!

Paul

[Popsjag]

Why not make your own version of a door spring compressor (search 'door spring compressor' on ebay to see what i mean). It might work!

[ptjs1]

The basic difficulty is that you can't get to the top or bottom of the spring - ie it has to sit in the well of the mirror mount and you have to drift the washer on to the top of it. I had a bit of practice today and think I just might be able to lockwire it, position it, get the washer started on the mirror shaft, cut the wire and release the spring and then drift the washer further down the shaft.

I'm intrigued as to how it was originally done in the factory! I guess they wired the plugs on after the washer was fitted which would make the process easier.

I MUST go and find the lockwire tool tomorrow......

Paul