How To Remove Rear View Mirror Ball Joint

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Rear view mirrors are usually secured to windshields with potent adhesive so that they don't autumn off in an blow. Simply when it comes time to replace that mirror, information technology can seem like it's a fleck too secure and difficult to remove, at least not without breaking your windshield birthday. The good news is that you tin can pretty easily pry that mirror abroad from the windshield with the right tools and a little bit of elbow grease, and this commodity volition evidence you how.

Things Yous Should Know

• Slide or unscrew the rear view mirror from the mountain that attaches information technology to the windshield.
• Pry the mount away from the windshield with a screwdriver or apartment lever tool.
• Scrape the glue residue from the windshield with a unmarried-edge razorblade or glass scraper.

1. 1

   Find a warm environment, or expect for a temperate day. If you programme to install a replacement mirror after removing your current mirror, drive to a location with a temperature between 50–lxx °F (10–21 °C), like a heated garage or a sunny parking spot. If your windshield is likewise hot or likewise cold when you get to reinstall a mirror, the adhesive may not work as intended.^[i]

2. ii

   Disconnect whatever wires from the mirror. Some rear view mirrors contain electronic components like digital displays that are connected from the base of the mirror to the car by wiring. If this is the instance with your mirror, beginning remove the casing that covers the wiring. You lot may demand to use a screwdriver to do so. Then, advisedly disconnect whatever wires from the mirror.^[two]

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3. 3

   Slide out or unscrew the rear view mirror from the mount. Many rear view mirrors aren't mounted to the windshield itself, but rather to a "button" or a separate mechanism that adheres to the windshield. Some mirrors simply slide up and abroad from the mount, while others are screwed into it.^[3]

   • If your mirror is attached directly to the windshield, you tin continue to the next section without kickoff removing the mirror itself.

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1. ane

   Spray the area effectually the mount with two parts dish soap, ane part h2o. This will aid to loosen the adhesive that binds the mount to the windshield.^[4] You can likewise soak a cotton swab in acetone and swab around the base of the mount.^[5]

2. two

   Apply gentle pressure to the mirror mount with a flat pick. Using a Phillips-caput screwdriver or a rear view mirror removal tool, carefully apply pressure to the underside of the push. Then, gently twist or use the screwdriver as a lever to pry the mount from the windshield.^[6]

   • If the mount doesn't release even with a fair amount of pressure level, tap the other terminate of the screwdriver with a safe mallet until the mount comes abroad from the windshield.^[7]
   • You may need the mirror'southward mountain later for a replacement mirror and to easily identify which way is up and which face goes on the windshield.^[8] Before yous put it down, label the right side up and the inner face with a gummy note.

3. 3

   Mark the mountain's position on the windshield. In order to know exactly where the mount was so that yous tin can properly position a replacement and use the mirror as before. Marker the expanse, which is probably a bit gunked with glue residuum, with a felt pen, grease pencil, or a bit of masking tape.^[9]

4. iv

   Scrape off the mucilage residue with a single-edged razor blade. Remove the remnants of the glue with a sharp, flat tool. You can also apply a tile scraper or a glass scraper.^[10]

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Things You lot'll Demand

• Soap-and-h2o solution
• Screwdriver or apartment lever tool
• Condom mallet
• Single-edge razor or glass scraper
• Acetone (optional)
• Cotton swab (optional)

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Rear-View-Mirror

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