Please help!

[Dawie]

How do you put the mirror shaft ball back in the ball socket without too much force and breaking the mirror?

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by Dawie

How do you put the mirror shaft ball back in the ball socket without too much force and breaking the mirror?

Work on a heavy flat surface

Find at least one thick bath towel. Make a space at least 1 foot x 1 foot

Examine the ball and use a razor blade to shave any parting lines or excess plastic off the ball

Get a paper cup and a small can of very light oil like 3 in 1 oil or sewing machine oil

Dip the ball in the cup with some oil in it covering the ball and leave it there while you take a coffee break

Upon return, examine the socket with a magnifying glass and remove any tiny imperfections.

Take a Q-tip and get some vaseline. Put a VERY thin coat on the socket. Just enough to barely see.

Remove the ball and let it drip all excess oil off.

Hold the socket rod with two hands and roll it a little, back and forth and slowly press harder and harder.

This is how I got mine in.

Then wipe the excess off.

Be caref;l that none of it drips onto the mirror or onto your seat over night. Leave newspaper or paper towels there.

Much patience is needed to do this right.

[Jub]

I heated an exacto knife red hot, cut a horizontal slit in the cup...looked like this ...(/)...and it popped right in.

I tried it strelik way, couldn't get it to happen. Downside to my way is that on the hottest days (110's; plastic expands), when you hit a nasty hard bump, it might move (happed once or twice to me).

[Dawie]

Thanks guys!

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by Jub

I tried it strelik way, couldn't get it to happen. ).

Did you talk to the parts first and tell them you needed their help?

[meltedpanda]

talking to cars and especially the pieces parts is very normal and satisfying
I would agree it helps, often missed key to getting things back together

[Jub]

Originally Posted by strelnik

Did you talk to the parts first and tell them you needed their help?

Talk (LOL)....no, lots of praying then cussing. Then demanding. Then acceptance. I guess when I think about it, I went through all the stages of denial strelnik.

FYI, last time a car part answered my prayer (or the devil answered my cursing), was when I was trying to remove the lower starter motor bolt...

[meltedpanda]

oh the starter bolt - I had that conversation too!