2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Power Tow Mirror Swap

[PurdellMGP]

Originally posted by BWagner

I talked with the local parts guy for the dealer near me and he said, that you can get the power mirrors in the flip out style for the 95-02, it is not in a regular part manual but they are offered in the mopar performance catalog. I have not bought any but I can get the part number.

BWagner -

If you can get that part number please share

I did not know they made this... be easier then making your own.

 

[JBevans]

Great, thanks for the info guys... . now all I need is some motivation and parts. Looks like I have a nice summer day project.





ntillm01 -



Hey those pictures look pretty good thanks for posting them, It will help.

 

[24Vpirate]

i just got the wireing from a factory set up and swapped plug ends and removed old dash part and installed the pieace with the heat button and everything works like factory one of my favorite mods and it only cost me 400 bucks all together

 

[GotDodge]

Do you still have instructions for doing mirror swap. My dad is needing help. Thanks Robert

 

[Fireman Dave]

Robert,



I was just researching this today and found the links below to be helpful. Some of the guys on them have pics in their readers rigs galleries of how they did it. I ordered mine today after having my driver's side tow mirror head knocked off by an RV mirror while on vacation. So much for the break-away feature, huh? Oh well, now I can justify buying the power mirrors.



Dave



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93173

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78497

http://www.klenger.net/dodge/2nd-gen-reference/heated-towing-mirrors.html

 

[Rick B]

Hi Rob, I've been researching the mirror swap and I looked a pictures that showed two j-hooks and steel bar used for the install. When I read over your instructions it doesn't mention them. Are they needed or do I just follow the directions? I already have 01 electric and heat. Do I need special nut also? I am so new at this!! Thanks

 

[Fireman Dave]

You don't have to have the J hooks. I used mason's string to hold the springs after compressing them. Once I had the retainer ring in place, I cut the string with a sharp knife to release the springs.

 

[Rick B]

Thanks for the great advice. Rick B

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I know this is an old post, but I just did the power/towing mirror swap on my 98 today...



I used masons string and a vise to compress the springs... wasn't getting very far till I doubled up on the string! double-string on opposite sides of the spring worked great.



I don't know how or why people were having problems with the control knob... I can see how it wants to hit one of the mounting nuts, but I just cheated that triangular section of the panel over 3/16 or so, and it fit great. just shot the panel retaining screw into the hole at an angle, and it's all good.



LOVE these mirrors... so much better than the "sport" mirrors... took me for friggin' ever, but I kept having to run to the parts store for little stuff... first mirror took me like 3hrs! 2nd mirror took me about 45 min

 

[Fireman Dave]

Congratulations, Forrest! That's exactly how I did it - mason's string and a bench vise. They are slick, aren't they!

 

[dvieira]

don't know what mason string is but i had to use a thin wire to hold my springs, and they broke sometimes before i was able to put the springs inside of the mirror arm, also wired both sides of springs.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

Congratulations, Forrest! That's exactly how I did it - mason's string and a bench vise. They are slick, aren't they!

slicker than owl snot!



truck looks 10 times better to boot

 

[RMecum]

Frustrated with wire!

When I did my mirrors a few years ago I couldn't find wire that would hold the spring collapsed so I did some research and found a 1 inch PVC union would slide over the mirror base pin so I put the assembly in my big vice and pressed the retainer ring/spring assembly back together, probably the way it was assembled in the first place. I did my wiring hit and miss until the mirrors worked as advertised... . took about 5 minutes. Good Luck.



Mike

 

[BJonesUSA]

Did the swap in July when I was home on leave... that spring is a doosey! Ended up using a pair of needlenose pliers to hold the spring in place when it came loose. When I put them back together, I shucked the plastic shell loose and used a c-clamp and a 1-1/4" socket to press everything back together... took a few tries, but good as new.

 

[ntillm01]

Did the swap in July when I was home on leave... that spring is a doosey! Ended up using a pair of needlenose pliers to hold the spring in place when it came loose. When I put them back together, I shucked the plastic shell loose and used a c-clamp and a 1-1/4" socket to press everything back together... took a few tries, but good as new.

I couldn't figure out how to shuck the plastic shell off without breaking the tabs off. And, I didn't want to scuff or crack the plastic shell by clamping the whole thing. That's where the j-hook and socket idea came from.



I didn't like the idea of leaving remnents of string or wire in the knuckle.



As far as performance, they are awesome mirrors! I still amaze friends and family with the flip feature and the way the joystick "knows" whether they are flipped up or down. It's been 2 1/2 years and they haven't loosened up, no problems with the joystick, and the break-away/fold feature functions properly.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I wouldn't want to leave wire in there, but I don't see how a little bit of string could hurt in any way... (that's why I used it vs. wire)

 

[Fireman Dave]

I kept the string long so I was able to pull all of it out after cutting.

 

[DLausche]

I wouldn't want to leave wire in there, but I don't see how a little bit of string could hurt in any way... (that's why I used it vs. wire)

I felt the same way at first, but ended up leaving the wire in the knuckle after I got it back together. Been about a year or so now and I've had no problems at all with it. Wire or string left in there won't cause any harm and is totally unnoticeable.



This is one of the best functional mods to date. Way better than those flimsy clamp on style extensions.



Cheers

-Deon

 

[cyborg]

I read somewhere, maybe another board, that someone had swapped the internals over between the mirror bodies.

Anyone heard of this?