# Side mirror ball & socket too loose **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 20, 2019, 1:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121 "2019-09-20T01:38:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 1:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/1 "2019-09-20T01:38:49Z")
The side mirror on my truck uses a ball and socket adjustment method. Over the years the ball is now too small for the socket, and the mirror won’t stay in the proper orientation, moves when I go over a bump. The ball is about 1/3 inch diameter. I of course realize that I could just buy a new mirror. But any ideas for an inexpensive fix? I’ve already tried sanding the ball & knocking the edge of the socket with a punch to better stake the ball in place, neither was effective. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/2 "2019-09-20T01:46:33Z")
stick it with a toothpick or 2. Pound it in a bit. Then break them off so they are not visible ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/3 "2019-09-20T01:50:11Z")
Good idea. That’s definitely worth a try. No harm done if it doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/4 "2019-09-20T01:50:51Z")
Adjust it to your liking, then put a couple of spot welds on it. Side benefit, your wife won’t fiddle with the adjustment if she drives your truck!😁 ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 1:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/5 "2019-09-20T01:53:19Z")
Would soft wire work better? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 1:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/6 "2019-09-20T01:54:17Z")
I thought about gluing it in place. The problem is that the folks at Ford in the early 70’s hadn’t quite achieved full comprehension of what happens when somebody walking by knocks into the mirror. Which is something that happens all the time apparently. Now they hide the mirror behind a cowl-like gadget, but then the mirror was just sticking out the side, open to all wh might o bump into it. So I’d worry that any sort of permanent fixation method would result in the entire mirror getting knocked off the side of the truck eventually. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/7 "2019-09-20T01:59:28Z")
Make a spacer from a small section of shelf liner. Sandwich it between the ball and socket. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/8 "2019-09-20T02:01:00Z")
That would be a difficult task I think. If there was something I could paint the ball or otherwise apply that would simultaneously make it a little larger and also have a sticky texture, that might work. ---
**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 1:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/9 "2019-09-20T13:06:31Z")
I don’t know what it’s made of. But can you drill a hole, tap and use a set screw? ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/10 "2019-09-20T19:56:33Z")
Thin brass shim stock around the ball. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/11 "2019-09-20T23:20:20Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > otherwise apply that would simultaneously make it a little larger and also have a sticky texture, that might work That’s what the shelf liner does. What exactly makes it difficult? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 11:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/12 "2019-09-20T23:23:08Z")
With the ball already in the socket how would you then apply shelf liner paper to it? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/13 "2019-09-21T00:14:21Z")
There’s two choices. Position the mirror where you want it, then run a bead of clear Gorilla glue around the joint between where the ball/socket meet. Or? Replace the mirror? [http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fc/full.aspx?Page=49](http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fc/full.aspx?Page=49) Tester ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/14 "2019-09-21T00:19:33Z")
This is more or less what it looks like [https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford\_truck\_late/ford-pickup-truck-outside-rear-view-mirror-assembly-chrome-die-cast-neck-and-arm-round-stainless-steel-head-6-hole-mount-right-or-left.html](https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_truck_late/ford-pickup-truck-outside-rear-view-mirror-assembly-chrome-die-cast-neck-and-arm-round-stainless-steel-head-6-hole-mount-right-or-left.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2019, 12:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/15 "2019-09-21T00:25:51Z")
Glue it. If you were restoring the truck, you would need the mirror anyway [http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fb/full.aspx?Page=184](http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fb/full.aspx?Page=184) Tester ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2019, 11:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/16 "2019-09-21T11:35:21Z")
It was assembled, it can be disassembled. If that is not possible for you, then why not just buy a generic replacement. It’s not a show truck… ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2019, 10:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/17 "2019-09-21T22:17:03Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > It was assembled, it can be disassembled. Have to take exception – not on that part specifically – but on general principle. There are numerous mechanical gadgets which were obviously assembled, but can’t be disassembled afterward. At least not without damaging them. Many of the current versions of CV joints are an example. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/18 "2019-09-23T17:54:28Z")
It’s that type of attitude that will keep you from ever fixing certain things. You may have to heat up a joint to expand a part or know exactly where the hidden from view tabs are located to disassemble something, but I have yet to run across _anything_ I couldn’t take apart, repair and then reassemble. This includes hard-potted electronics assemblies, plastic fused cases etc. Like I said, if it’s not possible for you, then you really only have one choice… ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/19 "2019-09-23T21:01:01Z")
Maybe try one of those ignition control modules that are encased in that epoxy like goo. I don’t think those are going back together the same if you do get it apart. The mirror, you could probably get apart. The glass may be glued in and have to be heated or something to get the glue to release. Then once you’ve got the glass out, you’ll probably have access to disassemble the rest. But I don’t think I’d go to that kind of trouble to stick shelf paper in there… ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 9:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121/20 "2019-09-23T21:07:23Z")
One more idea occurs to me. Drill a small hole in the part of the mount where the socket is, toward the ball. Screw a self tapping screw into the hole and tighten it so it holds the ball in place. About 5 minutes’ work and you can always loosen the screw if you need to reposition the mirror… [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/side-mirror-ball-socket-too-loose/149121.md?page=2)