Mirror question

[TRaGiK]

Just picked up a '99 C10, and my mirrors don't stay put. Wind pushes the mirror around and makes them almost unusable.

Is there any way to tighten them up, or do they need to be replaced to fix this?

[Nosmo]

Very simple fix.  Looseness is caused by wear in the ball joint that is part of the mirror mount.  Feel the bottom of the rubber boot with your fingers, and you'll feel where the tension nut is.  Make a SMALL slit in the bottom of the boot, stick in the correct size socket (I can't remember what size, but I think it's about 12 mm) on a short entension and tighten it up.  Boot should be OK, water won't get in , but you could put some black silicone sealer on the slit if you want to.  I slit mine six years ago, and nothing has gotten in yet. 

[yoman]

Great question and reply, mine are getting tightened after I finish this cup of coffee.

This is why I handg out here.

[George R. Young]

I think there were little black plastic caps on the bolt ends that had to be removed and chucked over the left shoulder.

[Outback_Jon]

(I can't remember what size, but I think it's about 12 mm)

I think it is 10mm.  IIRC, I used a 1/4" drive ratchet and a deep 10mm socket to do mine.  This way, the socket doesn't pop off when you remove the wrench, and then you have to fish around inside the boot to find it.

[anycleavers]

I used a couple of small dabs of gel-style crazy glue to close up the slits, worked great.

[yoman]

10 mm universal socket, 6 inch extention, rachet and a razor blade......done.

Thanks for the info guys!

[TRaGiK]

Much apreciated guys. I'll do the fix this weekend...

[medicevans]

Good info to have.  My replacement right mirror isn't quite tight enough either. 

[timmerz]

Yup, perfect timing for this subject for me...frikkin' California highways I use commuting usually have me adjusting both mirrors at least twice each way...a little tighter would take care of that, I'm sure!

[bbroj]

I had most of my fairing off to install higher Db horns in the stock location. I snugged up the mirrors at that time to prevent having to slit the rubber boot. The fairing disassembly to the point of having access to the mirrors is not horrible, but slitting the boot is obviously a lot quicker.

[Dan]

great info learned sumthin new..

[snarf]

I think it is 10mm.  IIRC, I used a 1/4" drive ratchet and a deep 10mm socket to do mine.  This way, the socket doesn't pop off when you remove the wrench, and then you have to fish around inside the boot to find it.

Nope its going to be a 12mm.  I just did this to the 'Spirit' about two weeks ago

[yoman]

Nope its going to be a 12mm.  I just did this to the 'Spirit' about two weeks ago

Must be a mixed bag. Mine were 10 mm.

[mjrfd99]

Very simple fix.  Looseness is caused by wear in the ball joint that is part of the mirror mount.  Feel the bottom of the rubber boot with your fingers, and you'll feel where the tension nut is.  Make a SMALL slit in the bottom of the boot, stick in the correct size socket (I can't remember what size, but I think it's about 12 mm) on a short entension and tighten it up.  Boot should be OK, water won't get in , but you could put some black silicone sealer on the slit if you want to.  I slit mine six years ago, and nothing has gotten in yet.

same here   Thhought it was a 10mm   had a plastic nut cover on mine that I chucked

[snarf]

10mm really   This is weird.  I put one that I broke on my 02 and I swear it was a 12mm.  I tightened up the nuts on the 86 with the same wrench.

[Outback_Jon]

Nope.  Just went and checked.  Definitely 10mm.

I wonder if there's confusion between the adjusting bolt - that's under the 'accordion' rubber boot, and the mounting bolts - that mount the mirrors to the fairing.