Replace Side View Mirror Glass
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
Introduction
Buy a precut mirror and fix the broken one on your car. The fix costs less than $20 for parts and supplies and takes only 10 minutes to complete.Tools Required
- Leather gloves
- Safety glasses
Materials Required
- Black rubber sealant
- Precut glass mirror
Fix a Side View Mirror on Your Car
You don’t have to replace the entire side view mirror assembly just because the glass is broken. Replacing the mirror glass is a do-it-yourself project that is usually inexpensive.
Several manufacturers offer precut glass mirrors to fit vehicles of all makes and models. One is Dorman Products Inc. Our local auto parts store didn’t carry the mirror for our Ford Expedition, so we ordered it from Dorman online. You’ll also need a tube of black rubber sealant (Permatex, for example), sold at any auto parts store.
Project step-by-step (3)
Prep the Broken Mirror
Start the repair by picking away as many loose pieces of the broken mirror as you can. Wear leather gloves and eye protection while doing this. You can leave the old adhesive in place. Then clean the remaining glass and the plastic mirror base with glass cleaner.
Apply Sealant
The new glass comes with adhesive strips on the back, but don’t rely on those strips alone to keep the glass in place. Apply a thick bead of black rubber sealant 3/4 in. in from the perimeter of the plastic mirror retainer. Put a few large dollops of the sealant on the honeycomb portion of the plastic base and a few more on the old broken glass. Don’t apply the sealant in areas where the adhesive pads will contact the plastic base. The pads must make contact with the plastic base to hold the new glass in place while the sealant sets up. Apply the mirror to the base and into place. Use masking tape to hold the mirror in place until the sealant cures.
Finished Result
The finished project looks just like the original.
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