# Adhesive to repair car mirror **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119 "2004-07-01T21:44:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/1 "2004-07-01T21:44:13Z")
The rear-view mirror was knocked off the inside of the windshield. My husband bought some double-sided tape at an auto-parts store, but it didn’t work. Is there some type of tape or glue that would hold the mirror back where we need it? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/2 "2004-07-01T21:55:47Z")
They sell a little tube of special glue made precisely for that purpose at places like Pep Boys and the automotive section of Wal Mart. Make sure you get “rear view mirror cement” and not just any old super glue. I vaguely remember the last time I did this on a car years ago, it was a two-step process: Scrub the glass with a little alcohol wipe and then slap on the mirror using their special cement. It really works wonders. Of course, last summer when I came home from vacation, I found my truck’s rear view mirror sitting on the seat. I haven’t missed it one bit! (I have a cap on the truck, so it didn’t really contribute much). ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/3 "2004-07-01T22:03:57Z")
Be sure to remove all traces of the tape and the old mirror mount adhesive. A razor blade should handle this nicely. You want the glass absolutely clean, otherwise the new adhesive won’t last too long. The last time I did this, there was a “primer” involved - may have been the “alcohol” wipe minor7 mentioned, or it may be something beyond that - put a dab of tape on the ouside of the glass so you know exactly where to put the stuff. Aside from that, the directions with the stuff are pretty simple. Folow them to the letter, and the mirror should stay up there forever. BTW - this is the same stuff the auto plant used to put the mirror up originally. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/4 "2004-07-01T22:34:57Z")
What you need is something like that [http://www.midwayautosupply.com/detailedproductdescription.asp?4366](http://www.midwayautosupply.com/detailedproductdescription.asp?4366) Use that or a similar kit. Don’t use any random glue because it won’t work. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/5 "2004-07-01T23:30:30Z")
The good news is that, with proper surface prep —don’t cut corners on ANY step-- rear view mirror glue works outstandingly well. The thing is, a lot of people don’t seem to do the prep as carefully as they think they do. I’ve re-done it for friends who’ve sworn up and down that they did it right (and frankly were pretty pissed that I’d suggest they hadn’t) I haven’t had one fall off in any reasonable time (say, 3 years) since my first and only failed attempt (when I, too, swore up and down that I’d done it exactly according to the directions) Also, check the package for any indication of its age. Some auto parts shops don’t rotate their stock on items like this. Check that the neck isn’t rock hard. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/6 "2004-07-02T01:21:44Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > The last time I did this, there was a “primer” involved - may have been the “alcohol” wipe minor7 mentioned, or it may be something beyond that Now that I see **Dog80** ’s link, I remember that it wasn’t alcohol – it was some special kind of magic stuff, an accelerant perhaps. Oh yes, to avoid being counted in with **KP** ’s “sworn up and down” group, I must clarify that the one that fell off in my truck was the factory mirror. The one I did in my car years ago held fast as long as I had the car. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/7 "2004-07-02T01:45:34Z")
Pematex #11067-2 Ah, Summertime! I sold so much of this stuff we kept it behind the counter so we could grab it faster. Nothig more to add. Prep is important. Check that mirror is not loose on the “button”. Tiny vibrations can and do weaken the glue bond. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/8 "2004-07-02T01:48:57Z")
> [@Booker57](#): > > Prep is important. How true. I had to replace mine and I didn’t press the button on long enough and the mirror fell off the next day. If the instructions say press the button in place for 2 minutes, make it 3. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/9 "2004-07-02T01:59:09Z")
> [@Booker57](#): > > Pematex #11067-2 > > Ah, Summertime! I sold so much of this stuff we kept it behind the counter so we could grab it faster. Or Napa Balkamp 765-1164. Yep, summertime at the parts store. Rearview mirror adhesive, car wash stuff, and freon ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/10 "2004-07-04T13:04:40Z")
Nope, the wipe on is not alcohol, it is the primer, it preps the glass and helps the glue in the other container set up. The directions i got, said to clean the glass thoroughly with alcohol to remove any dirt and oil first. It also said remove EVERY trace of the old glue. The stuff is incredible. Amazingly strong too. My mirror fell off RIGHT in front of me. I got in the car and the thing slowly slid right off of the windsheild. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/11 "2004-07-04T14:18:19Z")
> [@Doobieous](#): > > My mirror fell off RIGHT in front of me. I got in the car and the thing slowly slid right off of the windsheild. Yeah, that is something like what my son said when he asked me how to replace the rearview mirror in his truck. He denied everything when I started laughing. I finally got it out of the girlfriend later: the mirror was kicked off, just as I suspected. 😃 Summertime, indeed, **Booker57** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/12 "2004-07-04T14:36:26Z")
> [@Cub Mistress](#): > > … I finally got it out of the girlfriend later: the mirror was kicked off, just as I suspected. 😃 Summertime, indeed, **Booker57** 😃 Your son practices Karate inside his truck? 😃 I had glued on back on using one of those kits, and then it got knocked again off loading something into the passenger seat. It actually took a chunk of the glass out, the glue held great. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhesive-to-repair-car-mirror/253119/13 "2004-07-04T15:34:44Z")
One thing nobody’s mentioned, maybe it’s too obvious, but that didn’t stop me from screwing it up … As mentioned, this glue is incredibly strong. If you do it right, your mirror will be exactly where you put it for many years. So before you start application of this stuff, make absolutely sure you’ve correctly marked the spot where the mirror is supposed to go. :smack: