Anyone have any good ideas for removing the mirror glass from the plastic mounts on the external mirrors?

I have one mirror that's scratched pretty badly, and I'd like to just install new glass in each side. They seem to be glued on the mounts really well, and before I broke them, thought I'd ask.

BTW - I scratched the mirror - it was looking really dirty, and windex wouldn't cut it, so I tried a small piece of steel wool thinking they were glass - trust me - they are NOT glass but plastic!

 

Just pull on it. It pops out of the socket that it pivots on. Another one will pop right back into the housing.

 

I have the mirrors out of the housing - just need to get the glass off the plastic backing to replace - it's glued on pretty good. I'm assuming that the PPG replacement glass does NOT include the plastic backing that attaches to the mirror motors.

 

it cant be that simple!
you mean i can just pull the darn thing out? how about electric ones? it just pulls out. i have been going nuts because i want to put my elect mirrors on but the problem is that they are blue on my car and red on the ones i got.
all i have to do to be able to get to the screws is pull them straight out?

please tell me its really true.

and how hard do you have to pull. i have a 90 camaro.

 

I'm guessing you have power mirrors, right? Those mirrors have the glass glued to a plastic backing piece and that piece won't be included with the new glass. You're right, it is glued on very well. Since your glass is already scratched the best way to do it is break the glass with a hammer. (Don't hit it too hard!) Once the glass is broken into smaller pieces it's much easier to get off the plastic backing and you can then glue your new mirror in place.

 

You have a different issue since you are changing over from manual mirrors to power. You're right, if you want to keep your existing housings and just put in the electric internals all you need to do is unscrew the manual mirrors and put in the electric motors. After that, you will just need to pop the mirrors into the motors. (Be careful so you don't break the mirrors.)

 

Instead of pulling your hair out over removing the bad mirror or wondering if the replacement mirror having the plastic mounting piece just check out your local big box parts house for the "HELP" replacement parts section or check out dorman.com.

They should have a exact size replacement mirror piece that is placed OVER the existing broken mirror with double sided tape usually included for less than $10 bucks.

 

i have removed glass from the backs but i was never the one to take them off.
life is beautiful.
will put my electric in today.
that was so simple.
i already feb the wiring up but did not want red old housings on my blue camaro.
plus i just bought a pile of yellow pieces and the door opening piece was already connected to the factory mirror contol piece.
so in they go.

 

dorman.com is some CPA - nice website though.

It doesn't appear that Dorman has a site of their own - at least not a punlic one. But I'll look at their stuff through the aftermarket resellers.

 

i want to thank everyone who answered my pm's and gave me good information like

camaronewbie:

Pull gently on the mirrors - what's happening is that when you pill, your are pulling the threaded rod on the back of the mirror out of the little motors inside. Also, there is a little metal thing that looks like a plus symbol - that has to be carefully popped out - use a very small screwdriver on it, and pop it out from the motor, not the mirror.

well it works great. i knew about place to buy glass but this is just great. i took a pic after i pulled the glass out so everyone could see what those smarted than I were talking about.

 

Dorman parts right here:
https://www.dormanproducts.com/cgi-b...man%20Products

 

Thats why once in a while you wake up in the morning and have no mirror