removing mirror glued onto windshield?

tarps3 · Post by **tarps3** » January 2, 2009, 5:16 pm

Hi all,

My truck came with one of those after-market mirrors glued in the middle of the windshield - really blocks my view.

I want to remove the little puck that is glued to the glass but I'm not sure what to use to dissolve the adhesive. Has anyone done this?

I have an original mirror I'll mount from the center of the windshield header where it screws it.

thanks,
Casey

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » January 2, 2009, 7:00 pm

I did it with a cresent wrench once on a windshield that was alreaddy cracked. It worked great.....your results may vary.

DCarr · Post by **DCarr** » January 2, 2009, 10:22 pm

If its glued to the windshield with rear view mirror adhesive you can apply heat CAREFULLY and remove it with a twisting motion using some channel-lock pliers. If its one of the perforated ones using silicone adhesive you can just use a razor blade.

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » January 2, 2009, 10:53 pm

the summer sun seems to take care of them here. lol

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » January 2, 2009, 11:00 pm

i have had them fall right off on real cold days.
dont know of the proper procedure if there is one for removal but i am glad the factory slick (and 67)mirrors are screwed to the roof

DocDave · Post by **DocDave** » January 3, 2009, 1:10 am

we used to get them in the shop all the time with people trying to reinstall them with the do it yourself kit. They managed to put them on upside down regularely!
Heat with a lighter for about 5 to 7 seconds at a time, try very slight twisting pressure with pliers. when it gets hot enough it will just move slightly (very slightly) No more heat. Continue to work it in a twisting motion.
Do not leave it to cool down at this point, it will put too much heat on the window if left there, you must continue with slight twisting motion, You can add a bit more heat if it doesn`t come off or loosen fairly quickly.
I never lost a window getting these off but I did have one bubble when I got it too hot.
Dave

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » January 3, 2009, 1:17 am

I agree with DocDave, just don't get it too hot. I have also taken of the do it yourself ones with a razor blade.

R Pope · Post by **R Pope** » January 3, 2009, 9:50 am

I was gonna say, "Just park it in the hot sun!" but somebody beat me to it.

Post by **Greg D** » January 3, 2009, 10:22 am

Some acetone may soften the glue.

Fanatic · Post by **Fanatic** » January 3, 2009, 10:31 am

I cant speak from experience but I would try a piece of braided fishing line . Find a spot to get alittle behind it and work it back and forth--like sawing. This cant hurt the windshield. Alittle acetone or even WD-40 would probably help cut the glue. That WD-40 works for anything!

Hawkrod · Post by **Hawkrod** » January 3, 2009, 11:13 am

Fanatic wrote:I cant speak from experience but I would try a piece of braided fishing line . Find a spot to get alittle behind it and work it back and forth--like sawing. This cant hurt the windshield. Alittle acetone or even WD-40 would probably help cut the glue. That WD-40 works for anything!

Unless it was installed wrong, that won't work. Even 1 pound test would be too thick to get behind it. The only real consistent way to remove these is heat because the glue is so thin even a razor blade won't fit between the puck and the glass. Now, if it was installed by a moron who thought more was better then all bets are off! LOL Hawkrod

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » January 3, 2009, 11:26 am

Now because I am Canadian I am gonna do this in metric.

Wait for a 30+ degree Celsius day and park in the sun for 1/2 hour. Simply adjust mirror. Make sure there's nothing in your lap for it to fall into -and splash.

or

Wait for a - MINUS 30+ degree Celsius day and park in the wind for 1/2 hour. Simply adjust mirror. Make sure there's nothing in your lap for it to fall into -and splash.

whoever came up with this glue-on idea was the scammer of the century. I have never had one of those things stay on for the duration of the windshield's life.

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » January 3, 2009, 4:26 pm

I haven't tried to remove those...they usually fall off first, like previously stated.

I did remove one by accident once, though. My S-10 Blazer, I accidentally smacked the mirror with my head & the mirror fell off...along with a chunk of windshield!

No cracks in the glass, just a smooth little chunk missing.

ras4434 · Post by **ras4434** » January 3, 2009, 4:47 pm

I happend to be going by a glass store when thinking about how to get mine off. I stopped and the guy came out and said "like this" and proceeded to pull out his lighter and in a couple of seconds grabbed the mirror and twisted it off (as was stated earlier). That trip cost me nothing but it did result in my purchasing $500.00 worth of windows for my house from them several months later. Good choise on his part as well as mine......Ross

tarps3 · Post by **tarps3** » January 4, 2009, 10:44 am

thanks for all the replies.
I got the thing off.

Since it was pretty cold outside when I attempted it, I was scared to use any heat. The temp difference form inside to outside might have cracked the glass.

Instead, I put a lot of protection on the dash and used some "enamel reducer" along the edges. Let it soak in and squirted some more on there.
It ate enough glue out so that I could get a razor blade scraper under the edge and it popped right off with no residue or marks on the glass.

Then I screwed in the overhead stock mirror and now I can see what's in front of me!!
Usually a lady on a cell phone putting on makeup in my lane headed toward me...

so, maybe it was better I couldn't see out the windshield.

thanks again!
Casey

Hawkrod · Post by **Hawkrod** » January 4, 2009, 12:15 pm

Excellent, thanks for posting the results. It may actually help the next guy. I know I never thought of solvent. Hawkrod

foghorn · Post by **foghorn** » January 4, 2009, 1:38 pm

Take a good size vise grips and clamp it to it then just heat it. It will fall off when its hot enough. I use a small syntax torch model sx2050 i got from mac tools. I have seenthe hand held propane ones used but with them the heat can spread out to far to fast and crack the window.
Here is one i found on craig list. But with these type of torch's always use triple refined fuel to fill them with. The ronson fuel that almost everybody carries will plug them up same with the cig lighter size. Even one of the turbo cig lighters will get hot enough to remove this quickly. I would be more likely to use them over a bic or some thing of that nature.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/tls/953427362.html

At that price its a steal i paid close to a $100 for mine 6 yrs ago.

Foggy

tarps3 · Post by **tarps3** » January 5, 2009, 9:01 am

Hawkrod wrote:Excellent, thanks for posting the results. It may actually help the next guy. I know I never thought of solvent. Hawkrod

Hey Hawkrod - how are you coming along with that snow storm cleanup?
Is your TBird okay (well, other than the obvious stuff you showed in your pics)?

Casey