How to remove mirror button from car windshied?

[JeffreyLebowski]

buy a GM from the early 90's, the button should fall off if you hit a speed bump :|
that was the 1st thing i had to fix on my trans am. I had it for a week when this happened.

 

[Slickone]

Finally got the thing off. I used my pencil torch and made a blue flame about 1/2" tall or less, and held it to the button, doing circles. After a minute or two, I'd try to twist the button but no luck. After heating it a few more times, I could finally actually see I could start to twist the button every so slightly, but couldn't ever get it to turn. I didn't try all out brute force. After heating it a few more times, it started to crackle. I thought I had cracked the glass. Figuring it was already damaged and I could get it repaired, I tried twisting with slightly more force and it popped off, burning a shallow place in my carpet until I could find something to pick it up with to get it out (which wasn't long!). Even a couple minutes later the glass was very hot and easily melted the crayon I used to mark the outside. I scrapped off the glue chuck (easy) and noticed there's a bubble in the glass about 1/2 the size of a BB, right in the middle of where the button was. There's another the size of a retractable pencil lead towards the top of where the button was. The button will hide these so it doesn't bother me, as long as it doesn't mean something will happen later? I'm not 100% sure I even made them.

I guess the acetone is good to clean off the glass before glueing the new button on? Should I follow the directions to a T? Someone mentioned to me some directions that were a little different, like applying glue to both the glass and button, and the amount of time to wait before sticking the button on. They also mentioned using a thin layer on the button, whereas the directions say a drop.

 

[Slickone]

Didn't notice until later that I had melted a 1" spot in my headliner from the torch. Didn't think I was that close. So the price of the mirror project just doubled at least.

Tried the Permatex kit exactly as the instructions say, and the button didn't want to stick in the 1 minute it said it would. Spread the glue around a little bit and tried again and it finally stuck. But wouldn't hold the mirror when I adjusted it slightly. Any tips on getting it to stick? Is the Loctite kit better? What about a thick glue like they use from the factory? Also the new button has a BB sized round indention in the very center. Should you put the glue there? I put it right below (kit says a drop of glue).

 

[Rumpltzer]

Aw man... this is turning into quite a project, huh? Sorry to hear about your headliner. I feel for you.

The first time I did a brake job I spent days and trying to get the calipers off and mangled four large allen wrenches. The second time it took an hour from wheels off to wheels on. Live and learn.

The glass is still flat, right? And all the old glue is gone? That surface needs to be CLEAN to get the button to stick. I used the cheap kits that comes with an alcohol swab and glue three times one summer. The surface looked clean, but the botton fell off in a few weeks. Only after putting more effort into cleaning the glass did the button stay on (still using the cheap glue kit) for six years until I sold the truck.

Good luck.

 

[Quixfire]

I was going to recommend heating the button to release the glue, but I see you already did that.

As for the glue kit I would follow the instructions, it should come with a primer to prepare the glass for the glue. I always put the primer on the glass and button and then just apply the glue to the button.

Good Luck and sorry for the late post,
Quixfire

 

[Dhawk]

Yes, use the Loctite kit. It is better. Clean both the glass and the button, with a new straight edge razor blade. Then wipe them both with alcohol. Apply the primer to the glass and the button. Then apply the glue to the button. How much glue depends on the size of the button. If it's a standard GM, Ford, Chrys., size button, I run a single line of glue about a 1/16" wide, vertically, the entire length of the button. When applied, the glue should spread out the entire width of the button. If it is a bigger button, just use multible lines of glue, depending on the size. When applying the button to the glass, make sure you carefully line it up where you want it, and after making contact with the glass, hold it in place for about 30-60 seconds. Also, once you have made contact with the glass, do not move the button even a little, until it has taken a set (30-60 seconds).

 

[Slickone]

The glass is flat. I cleaned it with a clean rag and acetone, turning the rag a couple times, so thought I had it as clean as could be. Is there a better kit or glue than what I'm using? I only put the primer on the glass (per the instructions), and not the button. How big of a drop of glue do you use? Looks like I could be buying a few more kits until I get lucky.
What does they use at the factory?

 

[Slickone]

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[Slickone]

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[Slickone]

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