I replaced both mirrors last summer because they had small cracks. Just drove 2300 miles through this last cold spell now both mirrors are cracked again. Hesitant to buy the same cheap replacements, thinking about going to a glass shop. What ya recommend ? I still have the original metal frames that came stock
Cheap mirrors.
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What did you originally replace with? OEM or something else? I would go with OEM from salvage if I can't get new (including at a reasonable price) Aftermarket is so hit or miss in quality.
If I have OEM mounts / housings, I would consider looking into what kind of glass is used and maybe have a set cut to fit. Other than one side being convex, I don't think the actual glass is any different from standard mirrored glass.
Mind the mounting medium (glue, tape, velcro). It probably has to expand and contract the same rate as the glass, while being able to absorb shock and vibration.
If I have OEM mounts / housings, I would consider looking into what kind of glass is used and maybe have a set cut to fit. Other than one side being convex, I don't think the actual glass is any different from standard mirrored glass.
Mind the mounting medium (glue, tape, velcro). It probably has to expand and contract the same rate as the glass, while being able to absorb shock and vibration.
I had the left one on my stock 2004 fall out (slowly) while I was driving during our latest cold blast.Fortunately it came off slow enough from the big globs of what appeared to be black silicone so I could hang onto it by hand out the window until I stopped moving and could get a large rubber band at where I travelled to to hold it in until I got home to glue it back in.
The glass appears to be a same two sided piece of mirror in that odd housing shape so that is reversible to fit the passenger side also,if reversed and glued in there.It is thin..say 1/8" thick.
I glued mine in with more of the same big globs of black silicone and used clamps to hold it in place until the stuff dried.
It seems to be holding okay.You may be able to find a match at the JY. If the one side that fell off isn't available..check for one from the other side of the donor van,,since they appear to be reversible with mirrors on both sides.The black silicone on the back came off easy with a razor blade and didn't leave any marks,so it would have worked again for either side as a replacement,just reversed to fit the odd shape of the mirror/glass portion.
I don't know if the year models changed glass or shape of the housing..I'm only assuming they are the same..Is there something better?In the PNW we don't get the radical cold spells(or only for a few days),so it doesn't seem to be much of a problem here.
The glass appears to be a same two sided piece of mirror in that odd housing shape so that is reversible to fit the passenger side also,if reversed and glued in there.It is thin..say 1/8" thick.
I glued mine in with more of the same big globs of black silicone and used clamps to hold it in place until the stuff dried.
It seems to be holding okay.You may be able to find a match at the JY. If the one side that fell off isn't available..check for one from the other side of the donor van,,since they appear to be reversible with mirrors on both sides.The black silicone on the back came off easy with a razor blade and didn't leave any marks,so it would have worked again for either side as a replacement,just reversed to fit the odd shape of the mirror/glass portion.
I don't know if the year models changed glass or shape of the housing..I'm only assuming they are the same..Is there something better?In the PNW we don't get the radical cold spells(or only for a few days),so it doesn't seem to be much of a problem here.
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