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Rearview Mirror Ball and Socket

Dversion

Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2025
Messages
14
Location
Cincinnati
My XLR/V(s)
2004 Satin Nickel XLR
Has anyone else had issues with the plastic fingers of the rearview mirror socket breaking off and causing the mirror to be limp? I see lots of videos about where the arm connects to the windshield but nothing about the ball and socket going bad. Has anyone actually come up with a fix besides pumping glue in the mechanism. The lack of threads in this forum on this makes me think I may be alone. This is on a 2004.
 
Lots of people have had the problem but no real fix other than buying a replacement mirror. If you go that route, ill buy your old mirror. We can make a repair but all the mirrors i have are good
 
I was able to create a 3d printed band-aid for this issue. I didn't want to separate the arm from the window because I’m sure it would loosen the pins. And I couldn’t separate the ball and socket with confidence that nothing else would break. I also didn’t like the idea of separating the back off of the mirror to replace it with a newly printed back with new fingers because of fear of breaking. So this band-aid does NOT require the removal of anything important, just the cover trim plate on the backside of the mirror arm which I didn’t even know was back there until digging into this. This device snaps into the same holes that the trim plate snapped into and adjustment screws allow for adjustment of the mirror by turning 2 screw knobs. Not anywhere near as easy to adjust as the factory ball and socket but it is functional and much better than a limp useless mirror. The device can barely be seen from the driver seat and can NOT be seen at all from the passenger seat. It can be seen from outside the windshield but it is all black so that it doesn’t stand out. My mirror had lost 4 of the eight fingers and was totally limp. Others that aren’t nearly as limp could likely remove the cross arm from this two piece device and use just one adjustment knob which would be even less noticeable. Unfortunately I can’t test that theory because of how loose mine is. The mirror image vibrates a little but again, it is much better than not being able to use it at all. If anyone is interested, I can send you the stl files for you to print. I can also give you the details to find the knobs in Amazon. Not sure if there are differences in the different years or mirror options. This is designed for a 2004.
 

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You can try the aluminum can trick, cut up a can into small 1" square or less if needed. Shaped it using a similar sized ball and then slide it in, used to to do this all the time with loose mirrors.
 
I used this bracket I brought from eBay I took it apart and removed the arm screwed the base to my broken mirror reassembled and it's been working fine for two years now I did rap the ball with one round of tape.
 

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Wow that would be an easy and great fix. Unfortunately it looks like the part that attaches to your window mount is different than mine. Looks like your metal mount is a wedge shape where mine is equilateral triangle shape and uses three small pins that bend when you twist to remove them too many times. I guess 2004 is a unique year for the mirror mount. Figures.
 
You can try the aluminum can trick, cut up a can into small 1" square or less if needed. Shaped it using a similar sized ball and then slide it in, used to to do this all the time with loose mirrors.
That sounds like a great idea too. Just not sure that would work with 1/2 of my flex fingers broken off and the tightening ring not able to grab onto anything. I’ll see if I can get something to work with that. Thanks for the ideas.
 
No you use the bracket NOT the arm the base is your one on the car now.
I am away for a few days I ll take a few pictures of mine when I get back and post them.

Remember you take apart the one you buy from eBay and only use the base of that one all the other parts are from your xlr
 
By the way there is also a fix for the three pin also I did that too on mine.

I forget the size of the drill bit. But you cut the shank and it's stronger than the pins that are in there. I think you can go on to the corvette sight for C6 and look up broke pin in rear view mirror. Hope it helps
 
Just keep in mind when modifying things like this, there is an aweful lot of engineering thatgo into them. They could make them indistructable but this item is made to break away upon impact with your face or head in an accident..
 
Yes I do know that it is mounted the same on the windshield as the factory. Just the mount where the fingers are is changed.
 

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