Rearview mirror glue...suggestions?

OK,

I've now had this thing fall off at least 6-7 times. I've got a Lucas 608 that I've tried gluing over and over and over....always with the same result..."doink!" onto the floor.

I've tried several different adhesives...most sold to specifically to attach a mirror to the windscreen...no luck. I've tried run of the mill crazy glue...and every time it ends the same..."doink."

I've cleaned like crazy...using either the supplied solvent, brake cleaner, acetone, alcohol...doesn't seem to matter.

I don't know if it is the temperature changes or the vibration or what, but this is just getting silly.

Can anyone suggest a product that has worked for them?

Thanks!
 
3-M product work the best. or go to a glass shop that does windshields. I am having the opposite issue. I am trying to remove a mounting tab to relocate it off center, no luck!
 
I had the same problem with my GT40 (4 attempts with different products incld. 3M) finally I called a windshield installer they have some heavy duty adhesive that did the trick
 
The mirror base must have a very smooth surface no scratches because scratches reduce
the surface area to be glued also increases the thickness of the glue thus reducing
it's strenght
 

Charlie Farley

Supporter
That's a new one on me Geoff.... grooves, indentations, scratches, troughs all increase the surface area, or i need to throw all those physics books away.
I have always been told the key is the ' Key '.
Anyway, i agree, go to a good windscreen company.
I once watched one on a P chassis being installed. The guy abraded the base of the mirror stem i installed, dabbed some sort of etching acid on to the base, pressed in onto the position indicated by the owner, waited, took it off, glass had turned opaque. Applied some 'gunk' to the mirror bracket stem, held it, used like a hairdryer for literally only a minute. It's still there like ...umm, 6 years plus..
The REAL windscreen guys will know, call a reputable classic car restorer is my best guess, they will know the Real McCoy in your area sir.
 
Aussie fords use that method, we had to refit the mirrors after fitting new windscreens- this was back in the days when we mechanics actually did all that stuff, not just send it out to 'other' specialists like the pups nowdays... think I have the all data in a tech bulletin I got while working at a Ford Dealership ~1972...might take a couple of days to find..pm me with your email & I'll scan a copy or I can post here if that's all you need.

Some times you get lucky- or maybe its my fantastic memory over riding the tidy filing system around here! Part A applies to the interior mirror, Part B might be of interest if your trying to paint match on abs material. One thought did occur to me... the mirror base should have a curve that matches the curvature of the glass.to check that use a very light smear of machinist 'blue' and hold against the proposed mount area on the glass to check for full contact..contact area is the key here, minor groove scratches should not be an issue as long as they are a groove only- without embankments on each side of the grooves!!
 

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Here's one Ron: 3M 5200. It's used in a lot of marine applications. Once it's bonded, the only way it's coming off is by taking the surface of what it's bonded to with it. It'll take 24 hours to bond to the glass, and 7 days before it's fully bonded, but it ain't coming off there except with a hammer.
 

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I'm going to try the 3M 08752 product. That will be my last and final amateur attempt.

Cliff, that stuff sounds scary... I don't think I could hold the mirror still for 24 hours...my arm would either get too tired or I'd have to go pee. Either way....
 
I worked for Ford from 74 to 77 and installed hundreds of these tabs to windshields. The install kit was a Ford supplied part # kit at the time with a tube of glue to apply to the metal tab and an accelerator to the glass. Clean both surfaces, locate position for tab and make a mark on the outside of the windshield with a marker or piece of tape. Apply the glue to the tab. apply the accelerator (from the spray canister) to the glass surface. With in 10 seconds press the metal tab onto the glass surface and hold firmly in place for "Two" minutes. (try not to let it move at all the first few seconds until it stays firm) hold pressure on it for the full two minutes. Put the mirror on the next day! Let it set-up overnight. The kit was produced by 3M and packaged/sold via Ford parts system. I could do 25 to 30 cars with one kit. The Ford store was located near a large automated car wash that had kids doing the windows on the inside by hand. So I usually got about 3 to 5 cars a week to re-install the mirror tabs...............The GT40 windscreen arc should be no issue as I can't get my current one off! My Daytona Coupe's fell off in the heat of Reno summer and I refit it 8 years ago........still on....Forever Ford!!!
 
Assuming the bracket is glued to glass, I would give acetone a try. It dissolves superglues, and may work for this.
 
Cliff,

So far so good. I used a 3M product, and it seems to be holding up. Of course, so did the others...for a while.

Fingers crossed. If it falls again, I'll definitely contact the pros.
 
i was not going to reply , Charlie Farley out smarts himself sometimes, always remember
the performance of this type of adhesive is adversely affected by increased gap, any gap over .2 mm is not doing anything and will fall off the next day. So roughing up the mirror base decreases the bonded area increases the surface area which is wasted . smooth is best just just like the glass if you get the adhesive close to .1 you will never remove it
 
Sounds like the Italian school of driving...aka "The gumball Rally."

BTW...Have the Webers...maybe they'll keep the police from noticing my lack of rear-view mirror. :laugh:

Put 4 webers or 8 TBs on it then you can throw the mirror away.

Jim
 
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