It's crazy how fast metal can rust. Check out my brand new mirrors...

[Mister-B]

I just bought these about 3 weeks ago from Brothers. All new arms, screws, mirror heads, and bolts. Look at the rust that has already formed. The other mirror looks the same. I suppose everything else makes the cut, except for the acorn nut and the washers.

Makes you appreciate how relative little rust these trucks can have after 45 years on some of the factory parts, if something less than a month old can rust like this

I guess I'll head to Lowes and see if they have something in stainless. Or, maybe I'll call Brothers.

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[69GWC]

Yeah thats pretty bad I bought mine right after I joined this forum and they dont have any rust on them.
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[Mister-B]

I just got off the phone with Brothers. They are sending me two more mirror heads that come with the mounting hardware free of charge. They said they haven't heard of this happening before. I'm not real certain if this will even help, but it's worth a shot. At least I'll have a couple spare mirror heads now.
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[~Whitey~]

well you are in Salt Lake City, things are going to rust there much faster than say here in Missouri. I went to Florida for vacation last year and had my tools in the back of my vehicle stored away in the case that I needed them.. When I got home and put them away they were covered with a layer of rust just like on your mirror nut, not quite that bad, but bad enough. The salt in the air is not the friend of your truck! If it happens again, you may try clear coating them to ward of the rust.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I have the same mirror heads and live in sc. Mine started to rust shortly after install, my truck was outside 24/7. You have to paint the nut and shaft ( ). I used silver model paint. After i tightened the mirror down.
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[A.Bursell]

I have the same with my mirrors from Brothers. I'm just going to get stainless hardware. Everything else appears to be in good shape, figure that will take care of the issue.

Adam

[bobs409]

Mine did the same thing too. (from another vendor)

Either paint them, clear coat them or if you can find stainless use that. The 3 little phillips screws on the back of the mirror will rust too. (just a heads up)

[TBONE1964]

That is crazy. I am glad that Brothers worked with you and made things right.

Hopefully the new ones will not rust so fast.

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

That is crazy. I am glad that Brothers worked with you and made things right.

Hopefully the new ones will not rust so fast.

Yeah, it sounds like from other users that have since chimed in, that the replacements will also rust. So, I guess I get a spare set of mirrors out of the deal for my troubles and extra expense to get some stainless hardware.
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[dan42]

They are going to do it again. Get stainless. Mine did that IN THE GARAGE. And that's in California. I'm not sure why they think it's cheaper to replace the crappy pieces rather than make them right in the first place.
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[bobs409]

Anyone know where to get the stainless ones? Those 3 little phillips screws might be tricky to find. I didn't remove any yet but probably have a machine type thread. ??

[midniteblues]

Originally Posted by bobs409

Anyone know where to get the stainless ones? Those 3 little phillips screws might be tricky to find. I didn't remove any yet but probably have a machine type thread. ??

theres a place down here in hamburg called the "fastner place" they have crazy cheap prices on stainless fastners they carry alil' bit of everything when it comes too hardware

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by bobs409

Anyone know where to get the stainless ones? Those 3 little phillips screws might be tricky to find. I didn't remove any yet but probably have a machine type thread. ??

Before I bought these new mirrors, I ended up replacing those 3 screws on my old square mirrors. I was able to find stainless ones that matched and fit well at Lowe's. make sure you replace one at a time, or the backing plate will slip out of place, and it'll take forever to line up the holes
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[67swb72klb]

a good spot to find stainless fasteneers is a someware that sells marine parts

[pritch]

I've had real good luck finding SS nuts and bolts like these at Ace Hardware.

[Mister-B]

Brothers pulled through, and sent me the replacement mirrors today. They came in different packaging than the last ones, so I'm not sure if these are different or not. Time will tell. I went ahead and sprayed the nuts and washers with some silicone spray too.

I'm sure I'll probably end up needing to get different bolts and washers, but like I say...at least I have a free spare set of mirrors now
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[mygmctruck]

Most of the plated stuff we are buying these days from any supplier is not worth a crap. The plating is not like they do it in the this country , it made cheap and that's the bottom line, I have seen original mirrors that were 20 yrs old not looking that bad.
Things that were plated in this country were great but now that most everything is made over sea's this is the crap we are getting.

[custom1970]

X2 on ace hardware. I found the screws, washers, everything there. I also heard their stainless is better than the big chain stores. BTW, when you replace the screws, do it one at a time.
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[BrianPlaster]

Ok , so I consider myself to be a metal expert , I have been a welding artist for many years
Is the post you are attaching this to free of rust ?
Don't tighten it to much or it can break the chrome plating ?? I always use lock tight and don't over tighten
It looks as if the rust is from the chrome plating getting cracked / also when tightening put some painters tape on the inside of an open end wrench then tighten and use lock tight and don't tighten it to much

Just my thoughts ....
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[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by BrianPlaster

Ok , so I consider myself to be a metal expert , I have been a welding artist for many years
Is the post you are attaching this to free of rust ?
Don't tighten it to much or it can break the chrome plating ?? I always use lock tight and don't over tighten
It looks as if the rust is from the chrome plating getting cracked / also when tightening put some painters tape on the inside of an open end wrench then tighten and use lock tight and don't tighten it to much

Just my thoughts ....
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Yes. The posts on both sides are rust free, and were purchased and installed at the same time as the mirror heads
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[bobs409]

Originally Posted by Mister-B

Before I bought these new mirrors, I ended up replacing those 3 screws on my old square mirrors. I was able to find stainless ones that matched and fit well at Lowe's. make sure you replace one at a time, or the backing plate will slip out of place, and it'll take forever to line up the holes
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Thanks! I'll have to check there.

[dznucks]

This has nothing to with rust...but when i put new mirrors on my truck, i drill a tiny hole in the rim of the metal casing holding the mirror glass. then install the mirror with the hole pointed down.

I have had the mirrors fill with water, then freeze and crack the glass. now the only time the mirror glass breaks it because of a mail box. or a sign post.

[knsmodels]

if you dont find the acorn nuts in stainless the local Harley shop will have nice chrome ones that wont rust....Thats what I used....Good luck

[ubtripn]

Just happened to me too, that's why I was looking for some kind of spray.