It's not a shrouded mirror. The entire side mirror rides on a single ball-and-socket.

I'm single now, but don't plan to stay that way for the rest of my life (or even the rest of this car's life), so I have to preserve the capability of adjusting it for different drivers.

Believe me, I've looked all over for a way to tighten it. And removing it to replace it appears to require going from the inside of the door.

I'm not mechanically apt (and I pay the price for that), but the "replace it" suggestions are still appreciated.

I'm going to try the silicone caulk first, because I need to redo the tub anyway. Just a tiny bit, right around the edge of the socket, and try to work it down in by moving the mirror. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks

Popping that interior door panel off is much easier than you think. Go pick up a Chiltons or Hayes manual (<$15) if you can't find the instructions for free on the internet. A standard and phillips screw drivers are probably the only tools you would need to do it.

Careful with silicone caulking, that stuff sticks to everything and impossible to remove especially after it cured. And nothing sticks to it including paint.

What perfect timing! I just got a '92 Ford pickup (for $68, incl. title transfer) with that exact problem, and was wondering how to fix it.

I don't think the steel wool would work in a place like this, where you can't use sunscreen without first scraping off all the moss and mold.

Silly Putty... now that's my style!

Thanks, Guys!

Sue

I checked my old Jeep which has ball and socket mirrors. There are 3 bolts that surround the socket about an inch out. One of the 3 is adjustable with a screwdriver and I use that to tighten the mount.

Silicone caulk will take a Long Week to dry!100% silicone sealant will take 2 days to cure.JB weld will cure in 1 day,It is sandable,paintable but like 100% silicone,You will probably Never get it cleaned off completely,should you need to later on!Los Angeles to san Diego,We pretty much share the same climate so,Mold/Mildew is Not an issue!There is a Pick-a-part in National City,& Poway & Those junkyards are your BEST bet,Even if you aren't Mechanically Inclined,Bring a Hammer/Chisel with you,Good Luck!

Many libraries carry these manuals, and even if it isn't in your library it could be available via Interlibrary Loan.

Heh!

Okay, okay, sheesh! You guys just are NOT going to let me get away with a half-assed fix, are you?

This car's already "totaled out", so I'm not worried about keeping it cosmetically perfect. It has no resale value to worry about any more.

But I didn't get to it this weekend. If the door panel's really that easy to remove, replacing it might be an option after all. I'll check it out.

(Sheesh. Gonna make me do it right, whether I want to or not. I guess that's what I get for asking people that know what they're talking about.... <GRIN!>)