HOW-TO: Mirror Removal & Paint + Wiper Arms
04-12-2009 | 03:55 PM
#1
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 150
From: mississauga
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HOW-TO: Mirror Removal & Paint + Wiper Arms
Purpose: My mirrors were badly flaking and the base was showing through. My wipers were also peeling showing the metal underneath. Wanted to remove any rust and repaint so it looked better.
The wiper arms came after the fact as I had some extra paint and sand paper.
This will also answer this question here.
Total Cost:
Sand Paper 220 grit - $0.99 each
Sand Paper 400 grit - $0.99 each
Dupli-Color Sandable Primer - $8.99
Dupli-Color Acrylic Enamel - $8.99
Mastercraft sand paper - $6.99
Cost: $27 in items.
Time: With the help of one friend sanding, dry time etc 5 hours.
Difficulty: 2/5
Play by play
The first 3 shots are from before I got started. This clearly shows how bad the mirrors were when I bought my Integra. Compare these shots to the final ones in the end.
Now to remove the mirror u first unscrew this plastic screw (philips/star screwdriver). You could remove the whole door skin and this would go a lot smoother, however it will then take you longer.
Then this plastic cover just pulls back and lifts up for removal.
For the driver side, the procedure is the same.
Then just pull out the wire harness, there's a small clip on the bottom.
Then remove the 3 nuts holding the mirror on. This again would be easier with the door skin removed, but with patience can still be done.
Next here are the 3 screws you need to remove unless u want take a little more time to mask the mirror. There is a chance the screw may strip if you aren't careful. I opted to mask one side vs removing the screws from the other side.
The gasket just pulls off pretty easy. Take note to the 4 little nubs and the 3 tabs that hold it in. Don't just tear it off, notice how it sat on there. This would be a good time to swap out for a new gasket. Take your time when removing it if you want to use it again.
Here is how it looked after just a little sanding. The paint was coming off pretty easy. The plastic was pitted so it took some elbow grease and sanding with the the 100 grit paper first, followed by the 150, then 220 and 400.
This area behind the mirror was fairly dirty. I took a moment to just clean it up a bit (regretted not getting new gaskets, easy addon later.)
This is how they looked after i was finished sanding and ready for paint.
These are the products I used for paint and sanding. Purchased from CTC.
And this is the first coat of sandable primer.
While the first coat was drying i decided to add some Toronto Integras stickers. I think they look pretty damn sweet. I will dyno the car soon and see if they added any HP.
One of the mirrors primed and looking far better than what it did.
Here are all the parts after there second coat of primer. I could now see more imperfections and went back and sanded again.
And now back on the car. The flat black paint is hard to differentiate from the primer. I could have gone gloss and depending on future mods / fixes I may still pull them off, add a new gasket and finish in gloss.
The driver side mirror was the worst. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out considering how bad it was.
Doing the wipers was the same procedure with regards to prepping. Sanding and making it the best I could before paint ensured I wouldn't have to do it again.
Again, compared to the original this looks far better.
The passenger mirror, while not as pitted as the driver side turned out great as well.
Well, there you go. A quick how to on how to remove the mirrors, prep them for some paint and so on.
May not be perfect or good enough for Sema, but it sure makes my Integra look a bit better.
The wiper arms came after the fact as I had some extra paint and sand paper.
This will also answer this question here.
Total Cost:
Sand Paper 220 grit - $0.99 each
Sand Paper 400 grit - $0.99 each
Dupli-Color Sandable Primer - $8.99
Dupli-Color Acrylic Enamel - $8.99
Mastercraft sand paper - $6.99
Cost: $27 in items.
Time: With the help of one friend sanding, dry time etc 5 hours.
Difficulty: 2/5
Play by play
The first 3 shots are from before I got started. This clearly shows how bad the mirrors were when I bought my Integra. Compare these shots to the final ones in the end.
Now to remove the mirror u first unscrew this plastic screw (philips/star screwdriver). You could remove the whole door skin and this would go a lot smoother, however it will then take you longer.
Then this plastic cover just pulls back and lifts up for removal.
For the driver side, the procedure is the same.
Then just pull out the wire harness, there's a small clip on the bottom.
Then remove the 3 nuts holding the mirror on. This again would be easier with the door skin removed, but with patience can still be done.
Next here are the 3 screws you need to remove unless u want take a little more time to mask the mirror. There is a chance the screw may strip if you aren't careful. I opted to mask one side vs removing the screws from the other side.
The gasket just pulls off pretty easy. Take note to the 4 little nubs and the 3 tabs that hold it in. Don't just tear it off, notice how it sat on there. This would be a good time to swap out for a new gasket. Take your time when removing it if you want to use it again.
Here is how it looked after just a little sanding. The paint was coming off pretty easy. The plastic was pitted so it took some elbow grease and sanding with the the 100 grit paper first, followed by the 150, then 220 and 400.
This area behind the mirror was fairly dirty. I took a moment to just clean it up a bit (regretted not getting new gaskets, easy addon later.)
This is how they looked after i was finished sanding and ready for paint.
These are the products I used for paint and sanding. Purchased from CTC.
And this is the first coat of sandable primer.
While the first coat was drying i decided to add some Toronto Integras stickers. I think they look pretty damn sweet. I will dyno the car soon and see if they added any HP.
One of the mirrors primed and looking far better than what it did.
Here are all the parts after there second coat of primer. I could now see more imperfections and went back and sanded again.
And now back on the car. The flat black paint is hard to differentiate from the primer. I could have gone gloss and depending on future mods / fixes I may still pull them off, add a new gasket and finish in gloss.
The driver side mirror was the worst. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out considering how bad it was.
Doing the wipers was the same procedure with regards to prepping. Sanding and making it the best I could before paint ensured I wouldn't have to do it again.
Again, compared to the original this looks far better.
The passenger mirror, while not as pitted as the driver side turned out great as well.
Well, there you go. A quick how to on how to remove the mirrors, prep them for some paint and so on.
May not be perfect or good enough for Sema, but it sure makes my Integra look a bit better.
04-14-2009 | 11:34 AM
#3
Thread Starter
~~ Hardcore Newb ~~
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 150
From: mississauga
Rep Power: 626
yes just the 1 bolt sorry i dont rember the size . just take off the nut then press down on the wiper neer the join and pull up close to the bolt and it will slip right off.
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