How to Fix a Rearview Mirror

Unless your rearview mirror is secured with screws to the roof, it is glued to the windshield. While the glue is certainly good quality, these have a bad habit of falling off over time. Regular strong glue might hold for a little while, but you really need the right stuff.

Cleanliness is the key to a proper installation. Most rearview mirror repair kits only come with the glue components, some come with a replacement metal glue-on tab, but you still need a couple of items to get the job done right, namely a razor blade. If used properly, a razor blade won’t scratch the glass, but be careful as you could cut yourself pretty bad. Don’t forget to clean the mounting tab (if you are reusing it), as all the old glue needs to be removed as well.

The kit we used comes with a new tab, but the car we are working on (1965 Mercury Park Lane) does not use the slide-on style, rather a metal tab with a ball-mount for the mirror. It was cleaned with a razor blade and reused.

Our kit has two glue components, the adhesive itself, and a cleaner\primer for the glass. The package splits in half, making a clean holder for towelette inside. Don’t get the primer on your skin if you can avoid it. Wipe the glass and wait two minutes.

The glue is a special high strength glue that is designed for glass. Just a small drop on the mirror mount is enough.

Press the tab onto the glass and hold it for one minute. Allow the tab to sit for at least 15 minutes before mounting the mirror.

Once the 15 minutes is up, you can reinstall the mirror.

NAPA Auto Parts has several versions of these rearview mirror repair kits, including brand-specific kits with replacement mounting tabs. It is highly recommended that you choose a kit with an activator, as this is a much better product that yields better results.

Check out all the chemical products available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. To learn more about rearview mirror repair kits, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.