9 replies to this topic

[JonnyAlpha]

Whilst stripping my doors today I noticed that one of the Wing Mirror Screw Inserts that sits in the door has come out and the other is loose. What's the best way of securing these so that the Wing Mirrors stays secure?

 

[1984mini25]

Drill them out and replace them with new rivnuts.

[tiger99]

That should solve the immediate problem if the holes have not become too enlarged.

For better durability some people shape a piece of thicker steel, maybe 1.2mm, to fit against the back of the door skin and prevent mirror wobble or flexing of the skin. The plate can have nuts welded to the back and can be secured to the skin by adhesive, either something like Sikkaflex or good old epoxy. The corners should be well rounded and the edges turned in very slightly so they don't flex the skin and leave a visible crease.

I added similar plates on a different car, a Maestro, in the door handle area after it was screwdrivered in a vain hope of finding anything of value. The crim took a cheap plastic torch from the glove compartment and wet his pants and the passenger seat. Very nasty. The plates were to prevent screwdriver penetration in the lock area, but having made them up I realised that a similar technique would stiffen mirror mounts. I wish I had thought about it for my old Triumph Herald which cracked it's doorskins in the mirror area.

[JonnyAlpha]

If I fit Rivnuts what is the internal thread that I need?

 

I have bought this Wing Mirror Fitting kit.

Edited by JonnyAlpha, 04 October 2016 - 11:49 AM.

[tiger99]

You may need to measure the screws. Possibly 10 UNF.

[tiger99]

Thought so. Somerford's catalogue has the screws as 10 UNF x 3/4".

But for ease of getting rivnuts you could substitute metric screws.

[Midas Mk1]

Rivnuts are fine, no need for plates, no wobbles without them...

Just over complicating things (no suprises there from that poster)

Edited by Midas Mk1, 06 October 2016 - 01:19 PM.

[sonikk4]

If push come to shove you can nut and bolt them in place. The passenger one on Paddy was held in place with some very nice stainless steel Allen bolts with appropriate spring washers and nuts.

Not the easiest of jobs but can be done.

[JonnyAlpha]

So after spending ages trying to work out where to drill the holes I managed to get these in using an M4 bolt, couple of nuts and washers:

 

 

Seem pretty solid?

[tiger99]

Can't assess solidity from a picture! But if you are satisfied, job done.