Are There Ways to Partially Replace/Fix Broken Side Mirror?

[JustinB]

I had this tree come out of nowhere this weekend while on some trails and happen to break my driver's side mirror housing right off while it was folded in at the time. Quick inspection seems to show that it's just a little black disc mount setup that broke. Appears the mirror body locks into this in order to be connected to the actual mount on the door.

I'd ask if those inner black pieces are available, but I'm guessing not.

My problem is that all parts of the mirror are fine except for this. I don't mind scratches, so I don't see the point in buying a whole new mirror assy to bolt to the door. Are there any other options?

If a whole new mirror assy is the only option...how much do you think can be exchanged? Just the reflective glass? Or maybe I mount my existing mirror housing to the new door piece? I have heated mirrors, so if just that mount is broken, anyone think I could feasibly buy a non-heated assy and swap enough of my original parts over to keep the heated function?

I can take more pics if more detail/explanation needed.

Thanks in advance!

(The mirror is being held by the wire in the photo. It wiggles and jiggles all over the place since that black mounting piece that attaches the main housing to the door piece broke)

 

[luke87gt]

Justin, you aren't saving much of anything by trying to partially fix the mirror.

Just replace the whole mirror by sourcing one from a car that's being parted out and be done with it.

 

[JustinB]

Justin, you aren't saving much of anything by trying to partially fix the mirror.

Just replace the whole mirror by sourcing one from a car that's being parted out and be done with it.

Thanks Luke.

Don't get me wrong, I'm searching as that would be the easiest. Problem is that finding a 4th gen being parted out here is a nearly impossible task. Finding one in white with heated mirrors? I haven't even tried at this point.

If anyone knows of a trustworthy website though I'm all ears.

Sucks having to replace a whole assembly for one small sub-piece that broke, but such is the game I suppose. Ah well, a small price to pay for the benefits of a vehicle, no less a 4Runner. Worth it.

 

[bob3dsf]

rockauto??

Look at RockAuto? They have 4th gen mirrors. They are black. You'd have to paint them. Can't say one way or the other about quality as I haven't bought any. I think they were around $65. I have been thinking of getting some with the heater. Mine had unheated mirrors and It would be nice to have that option in the winter. I know all the 4th gens (at least the later ones) have the hookup inside the door panel. Otherwise go to a parts recycler and pull one...if you can find a 4th gen in the lot. Around my way, people don't seem to wreck them much....or do it nowhere near lots convenient to me.

 

[chompster4runner]

Stick with OEM like from a salvage yard. I had aftermarkets and the mirror would shake like crazy on any speed.

 

[NinjaOne]

If you don't already have heated mirrors, you could replace both and add OEM heated mirrors. ~$50/side for non-painted ones. 2004+ is pre-wired for heated mirrors.
https://www.amazon.com/Depo-312-541...0&sr=8-10&keywords=2004+4Runner+heated+mirror

 

[CXS]

Your driver side mirror looks close to my passenger side mirror. I guess I was lucky to just break the mirror and housing though. Packing tape is holding mine together, pretty classy I must admit.

 

[flyfisher4822]

Replaced the side-mirror glass from my 2006 Sport and have them in perfect condition. Willing to give them to you if you need such. Let me know.

 

[JustinB]

Replaced the side-mirror glass from my 2006 Sport and have them in perfect condition. Willing to give them to you if you need such. Let me know.

As in you have the mirror housings? Or the glass?

My glass, housing (mirror body), and door piece are all fine. Basically everything is fine except this little black mount that actually holds the two larger parts of the whole assembly together and allows the mirror to be folded in. Which from the sounds of it...can only be fixed by entirely replacing the whole mirror unit.

 

[DisguisedRope]

 

[magert54]

I got my replacement black unpainted mirrors to replace my old one. Check out my pics, it was not a bad replacement.

 

[JustinB]

:amen:, one of my favorite methods. Unfortunately the inner black mount pieces that broke ended up in the dirt/mud impossible to find. I guess I could use that to just "mount" it solid in one spot though, and just redo it every time I need to fold it in

I got my replacement black unpainted mirrors to replace my old one. Check out my pics, it was not a bad replacement.

I've been looking into that trying to decide if I'd be ok with just going with black ones if I can't find an easier way to fix the inner mount. Beautiful rig by the way...I feel like I may have stumbled it on it before when searching for build ideas...

 

[JustinB]

Had a chance to get the mirror off and dig into it today.

Anyone know if there is a difference in actual mirror size between heated and non-heated? I'm referring to the physical glass here. Not replacing a whole non-heated mirror assembly with a heated one via the door. Just removing the mirror.

Because if they are indeed identical, all I have to do is find a busted up 4th gen mirror. I can swap my glass, motor, housing, everything. All I need is the large inner piece shown in the second photo and the missing/broken black piece sitting inside the door mount (and I only need that whole big inner piece because the one piece that broke, the swivel/folding area, is part of it all)

Maybe I'll do a write up on this...I had this all apart in about 10 minutes and it should go back together just as easy. The hardest part will be finding individual pieces. But at this point I at least know I can take any color heated or nonheated mirror to fix what I need which should make things a bit easier to find a junkyard piece non-locally.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE A MIRROR THAT IS IN ANY CONDITION (SHATTERED GLASS, BROKEN BODY, ANYTHING) As long as it isn't broken at the swivel, i.e. you could still fold it in and out normally, I'm in the market for it.

 

[CXS]

I believe the only difference is in the mirror glass itself. Heated have two tabs for the heating circuit. The glass is the same.

If you find what you need and end up with a passenger side body I could use one.

 

[JustinB]

I believe the only difference is in the mirror glass itself. Heated have two tabs for the heating circuit. The glass is the same.

If you find what you need and end up with a passenger side body I could use one.

Thanks for the info! That's kind of what I figured after looking at the mirror. Just wanted to make sure heated mirrors weren't smaller or bigger or something. I'm assuming all trim levels of all years of the 4th are the same...hopefully I'm right there.

Only looking driver side now. I'll let you know if I find a wrecker with both sides though and maybe can just send one your way if they are as hard for you to find as they are me.

 

[Velonici]

Look at RockAuto? They have 4th gen mirrors. They are black. You'd have to paint them. Can't say one way or the other about quality as I haven't bought any. I think they were around $65. I have been thinking of getting some with the heater. Mine had unheated mirrors and It would be nice to have that option in the winter. I know all the 4th gens (at least the later ones) have the hookup inside the door panel. Otherwise go to a parts recycler and pull one...if you can find a 4th gen in the lot. Around my way, people don't seem to wreck them much....or do it nowhere near lots convenient to me.

I got one of the cheap ones form Rockauto. Does it work? Yes. Does it shake a lot from the wind? Oh yes. Might replace it some day but it works for now.

 

[bob3dsf]

I got one of the cheap ones form Rockauto. Does it work? Yes. Does it shake a lot from the wind? Oh yes. Might replace it some day but it works for now.

Hmm, good to know. I don't need heated mirrors that bad, besides, I have a garage now...

 

[fayraree]

I have a rattly passenger side mirror housing. U can basically shake the whole thing up. I fixed this up on my BMW M3 pretty easily and thought I could do the same on the 4Runner. Any pics available on removing the assembly? And what clips would keep it in place or could it be that just the screws are loose?


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[JustinB]

I have a rattly passenger side mirror housing. U can basically shake the whole thing up. I fixed this up on my BMW M3 pretty easily and thought I could do the same on the 4Runner. Any pics available on removing the assembly? And what clips would keep it in place or could it be that just the screws are loose?


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There are screws on the bottom side of the mirror you could try tightening. I have a mirror completely disassembled in the garage right now, I'll try and get some pics up for you. I would definitely first try pulling the little cover off the bottom side of the mirror though and tighten those screws in your case.

FYI for anyone following: I bought a cheapo mirror from rock auto. I should have expected this but I can now say for sure, completely different internal build than the stock OEM mirror. This is probably why most say 'just replace it', there is no way I can use any of the parts from the cheap mirror to bring my original one back to normal function. However; someone on here managed to help me out and provide a stock OEM mirror they are no longer using so I'll be able to take that and keep my original white mirror and avoid the 'cheapo shake/rattle', if you will.

Additionally, I think I can see where that shake/rattle comes from. The mirror I got is using plastic to mount the mirror to the base, where as the OEM mirror uses metal. Essentially, the aftermarket one is using screws drilled into holes in plastic, self tapping kind of setup looks like. Where the OEM is using machined metal. I'm guessing the aftermarket starts to loosen up in the plastic as it vibrates, self tapping more and more and the OEM just stays firm because it's metal and not widening in the threads or anything over time with vibration. Just a guess. Again, I'll try and get pics up for comparison for future reference.

Thanks all for your input!

 

[fayraree]

Thx for the help Justin. I'll try what you're saying...I don't see screws on the bottom of my 08 sport edition (heated).


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