disassemble driver side mirror

[moneyshotz]

My driver side mirror got messed up. Something popped and now it doesn't stay where I want it to.

So I got a brand new aftermarket mirror off ebay to replace it and found out it'll cost about $150 to paint it cause of how much the paint costs.

So I want to just try to keep my original housing and just replace the mirrors. How would I go about doing that? I took it off my car but I don't see how the mirror would come off.

[UpOnGaMe]

Do you have the matelic color paint?

[moneyshotz]

I have a pewter camaro. I do have some touch up paint though. I never painted before so I wouldn't know what to do.

[FireShadow]

Usually it is one of the cables inside that snaps. This has happened twice to me and I got a new side mirror assembly from gmpartsdirect for I think $60 or something like that. It is pretty easy to switch the guts out and keep the original plastic shell. If you need more help let me know.

[hockeyman]

If you are going to replace it, just break it then take the pieces out. If you try to pull it out holding the whole mirror, you'll either break it anyways and cut yourself, or risk breaking the mount that holds it.
After getting it off, use strong silicone to put the new one on ~OR~ 3M Double Sided Tape (recommended). Super Glue, Krazy Glue, Epoxy's have a tendency to wear down the reflective part of the mirror over time and start to show through. ie: You'll see a large non-reflective section showing where the glue was placed and it'll look like crap. You can find a silicone-glue at any Home Depot or Lowes.

This is if you're replacing the mirror only. If the cable is broken (like stated above) then just replace it and it should be fine.

[moneyshotz]

I bought a whole new assembly cause my cable broke. I just dont know how to take about the two mirrors and swap the housings. How would I go about doing that? I dont see where to use the double-sided tape.

[FireShadow]

I don't know where the breaking the housing comes in to play. On the inside of the car where the toggle is there are some screws, remove them and the small plastic panel and the outside housing unbolts from there. Now if I remember right to get the guts out after you remove the housing from the door there are 3 screws. Look inside the housing kind of behind the mirror and you should be able to get at them with a narrow screwdriver. The whole mirror plus mountings plus cables and toggle should come right out after that and then reverse the process. This is just from memory, it's been a few years. Let me know if you need any more help or if I'm just completely wrong.

[moneyshotz]

I was able to change the mirrors!

Saved me the trouble of having to paint the new housing.

Thanks!

[bullwinkle890]

Usually it is one of the cables inside that snaps. This has happened twice to me and I got a new side mirror assembly from gmpartsdirect for I think $60 or something like that. It is pretty easy to switch the guts out and keep the original plastic shell. If you need more help let me know.

Any idea on what the inside assembly is called and the part number? I have the same "cable snapped" problem....

[98Camaro3.8]

Glad to see this post, the same part just broke on mine a couple days ago. The part # appears to be 10279332. It includes the housing, guts, and new glass. $66 from GM Parts Direct. Fits 93-02 Camaros with manual mirrors.

[BLLDOGG]

i remember when mine broke right when i got my car. it was the plastic retainer that broke right at the glass so i just glued it back on.

[bullwinkle890]

I pulled the guts out of mine easily enough and I think I can glue the cable back in. The question I have now is which glue do I use? JB Weld, epoxy, super glue? I figure this sucker is gonna have some tension on it and it's a metal to plastic connection so... anyone done a glue fix wanna relate to what they used and how long it lasts (or lasted)?