{"id":22410,"date":"2024-11-11T06:55:17","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T14:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"\/wp-site\/?p=22410"},"modified":"2025-07-07T13:47:27","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T20:47:27","slug":"how-can-i-fix-my-rear-view-mirror-ball-joint","status":"publish","type":"car-repair","link":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/car-repair\/how-can-i-fix-my-rear-view-mirror-ball-joint\/","title":{"rendered":"How can I fix my rearview mirror\u2019s ball joint?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Question:<\/strong> How can I fix my rearview mirror\u2019s ball joint?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Answer:<\/strong> You can fix your rearview mirror\u2019s loose ball joint by locating the screw and tightening it. If your mirror is still wobbly, it might be time for a new mirror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-youll-need\">What you\u2019ll need<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>All you\u2019ll need is a good screwdriver set to get started. A Phillips screwdriver head will usually work, although you might need a Torx driver for some vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure that you use the correct screwdriver size. Otherwise, you might strip the screw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-tighten-your-rearview-mirror\">How to tighten your rearview mirror<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are three DIY ways to fix your rearview mirror\u2019s ball joint depending on where your mirror\u2019s screw is located.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Underneath the mirror<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Have a look underneath your mirror, close to where the mirror\u2019s flip tab is to look for a screw. It might be a hexagon set screw or Philips head screw. Once you find this screw, tighten it up. This will tighten the ball joint and make your mirror stay in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The roof of the car<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some cars have a ball joint connection inside the roof that you\u2019ll need to access to tighten it. Refer to your owner\u2019s manual to figure out how to remove the plastic covering at the base of your rearview mirror. Then, find the base of the mirror and tighten the adjustment screw. This should tighten the ball joint connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inside the mirror<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you can\u2019t find a screw underneath your mirror or behind the plastic covering, your car may have a screw on the mirror that needs tightening to fix the mirror\u2019s ball joint. You should refer to the owner\u2019s manual to locate the tightening screw before taking your mirror apart to look for it yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"watch-a-video-tutorial\">Watch a video tutorial<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re more of a visual person, try looking around for videos of rearview mirror repairs. You\u2019ll find plenty of full video tutorials of savvy mechanics fixing rearview mirrors with wobbling swivel balls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many video tutorials feature specific car brands, including Acura, Ford, Toyota, and <a href=\"\/car-insurance\/honda\/\">Honda<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"reasons-why-your-rearview-mirror-might-be-loose\">Reasons why your rearview mirror might be loose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Normal wear and tear can cause your rearview mirror to become loose or fall off. The top culprits are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Direct sunlight<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vibration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Frequent adjustments or being hit by people who use the car<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accidents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improper repairs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can keep your rearview mirror and side view mirrors in tip-top shape with occasional cleaning and tightening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"you-may-need-to-install-a-replacement-rearview-mirror\">You may need to install a replacement rearview mirror<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you can\u2019t seem to fix your loose rearview mirror, it might be time to remove and reattach your mirror or purchase and install a new mirror. Most generic mirrors will work in cars of different makes and models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To source a mirror that has more technical components, such as auto dimming or electro-chromatic tech, you can head to your local dealership to buy an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement mirror. You can also try looking on eBay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll also need an interior rearview mirror replacement kit, which you can purchase at an auto parts shop. The kit will come with everything you need to install your mirror, including cleaning agents, adhesive (like epoxy), and mirror assembly hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From there you\u2019ll need to remove the old mirror from the windscreen and install the new one. Make sure to prep the glass after you take down the old mirror and carefully follow the replacement kit\u2019s instructions when installing the new mirror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jerry-meet-experts\" data-wp-interactive=\"jerry\/meet-experts\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;modalVisible&quot;:false}\">\n  <div class=\"font-circular text-2xl font-extrabold text-slate-900\">Expert-driven. Built for you.<\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"my-3\">\n    <div class=\"flex justify-between items-center py-3 border-b border-neutral-200 cursor-pointer font-semibold text-gray-900\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.toggleModal\">\n  <button class=\"text-left text-base\" type=\"button\">\n    Why you can count on Jerry&#8217;s articles  <\/button>\n\n  <div class=\"transition data-[visible=true]:md:rotate-180 text-xs iconify i--chevron-down text-gray-500\" data-wp-bind--data-visible=\"context.modalVisible\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"modal-backdrop fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-50 overflow-hidden overscroll-contain bg-black\/70 font-body transition-transform delay-100 duration-0 md:relative md:z-auto [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:translate-y-full [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:bg-black\/0 [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:md:hidden\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onModalInit\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.hideModal\" data-wp-bind--data-visible=\"context.modalVisible\">\n  <div class=\"modal-view fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 flex max-h-[75%] w-full flex-col rounded-t-3xl bg-white pb-7 pl-7 pt-3.5 transition md:relative md:rounded-none md:pl-0 md:transition-none [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:translate-y-full [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:md:hidden\" data-wp-bind--data-visible=\"context.modalVisible\">\n    <div class=\"modal-header md:hidden flex justify-between items-center pb-1 mb-1 border-b border-zinc-200\">\n      <div class=\"modal-title text-base font-semibold\">Summary<\/div>\n\n      <div\n        class=\"modal-close-btn wp-block-group w-11 h-11 mr-2.5 content-center text-center\"\n        data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.hideModal\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"iconify i--close text-gray-500 cursor-pointer\"><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"modal-body pr-7 overflow-y-auto\"><div class=\"wp-block-template-part\"><div class=\"flex flex-row items-center gap-2.5 rounded-lg bg-gray-pink px-4 py-5\">\n  <span class=\"iconify mt-0.5 shrink-0 self-start text-xs text-primary i--shield-check\"><\/span>\n\n  <div>\n    <div class=\"font-body text-xs font-bold text-primary\">Our goal is clear, trustworthy information.<\/div>\n    <div class=\"mt-1 font-body text-xs text-gray-600\">\n      Our content is created, edited and fact checked by a team of licensed insurance agents, automotive pros and\n      experienced journalists who know the industry inside and out. Facts are thoroughly researched, verified and kept\n      current, and our editorial team is separate from our business partners, so our opinions &#038; tips are unbiased. All\n      insights drawn from Jerry\u2019s proprietary, aggregated customer auto insurance quotes data provide unique, real-world\n      guidance.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"text-base font-semibold text-gray-900\">Our experts<\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"my-8 flex flex-col gap-8 items-center justify-center\">\n          <div\n        class=\"meet-experts-item group relative flex h-auto w-full flex-none flex-col justify-between overflow-hidden rounded-3xl py-9 text-sm shadow-variant-card\"\n        data-expand=\"false\"\n        data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onItemInit\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"grid h-full w-full grid-cols-1 overflow-hidden px-8 md:grid-cols-4\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Hillary-Kobayashi.png\" class=\"size-16 rounded-full md:size-32 col-span-1 md:ml-4\" alt=\"meet-experts-thumbnail\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Hillary-Kobayashi.png 250w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Hillary-Kobayashi-150x150.png 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Hillary-Kobayashi-56x56.png 56w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Hillary-Kobayashi-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 260px, (max-width: 576px) 432px, (max-width: 720px) 540px, (min-width: 720px) 250px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>\n          <div class=\"col-span-3\">\n            <div class=\"my-4 flex-1 content-center font-circular text-lg font-medium text-slate-900 md:mt-0\">\n              Hillary Kobayashi            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <div class=\"text-slate-500 mt-2 leading-6\">\n              <p>Hillary Kobayashi is an insurance writer and editor specializing in insurance and finance topics. Hillary\u2019s mission is to use her knowledge and love of education to help car owners better understand how they can save time and money on car ownership. The articles Hillary has published for Jerry span topics from state-specific bill of sale requirements to SR-22 insurance information. Prior to joining Jerry, Hillary spent over ten years in education at Pacific University and the University of Oregon.<\/p>            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute hidden group-data-[expand=true]:flex bottom-0 w-full h-24 bg-gradient-to-t from-white from-30% to-transparent to-100% items-end justify-center\">\n          <div\n            class=\"flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-center gap-2 my-4 font-circular text-primary\"\n            data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.onItemExpandClick\"\n          >\n            <span class=\"text-sm\">See more<\/span>\n            <span class=\"iconify i--chevron-down text-xs\"><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n          <div\n        class=\"meet-experts-item group relative flex h-auto w-full flex-none flex-col justify-between overflow-hidden rounded-3xl py-9 text-sm shadow-variant-card\"\n        data-expand=\"false\"\n        data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onItemInit\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"grid h-full w-full grid-cols-1 overflow-hidden px-8 md:grid-cols-4\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Sarah-Gray.png\" class=\"size-16 rounded-full md:size-32 col-span-1 md:ml-4\" alt=\"meet-experts-thumbnail\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Sarah-Gray.png 250w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Sarah-Gray-150x150.png 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Sarah-Gray-56x56.png 56w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Sarah-Gray-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 260px, (max-width: 576px) 432px, (max-width: 720px) 540px, (min-width: 720px) 250px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>\n          <div class=\"col-span-3\">\n            <div class=\"my-4 flex-1 content-center font-circular text-lg font-medium text-slate-900 md:mt-0\">\n              Sarah Gray            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <div class=\"text-slate-500 mt-2 leading-6\">\n              <p>Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership\u2014from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that\u2019s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car. Prior to Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.<\/p>            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute hidden group-data-[expand=true]:flex bottom-0 w-full h-24 bg-gradient-to-t from-white from-30% to-transparent to-100% items-end justify-center\">\n          <div\n            class=\"flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-center gap-2 my-4 font-circular text-primary\"\n            data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.onItemExpandClick\"\n          >\n            <span class=\"text-sm\">See more<\/span>\n            <span class=\"iconify i--chevron-down text-xs\"><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n          <div\n        class=\"meet-experts-item group relative flex h-auto w-full flex-none flex-col justify-between overflow-hidden rounded-3xl py-9 text-sm shadow-variant-card\"\n        data-expand=\"false\"\n        data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onItemInit\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"grid h-full w-full grid-cols-1 overflow-hidden px-8 md:grid-cols-4\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kevin-Berry.png\" class=\"size-16 rounded-full md:size-32 col-span-1 md:ml-4\" alt=\"meet-experts-thumbnail\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kevin-Berry.png 250w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kevin-Berry-150x150.png 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kevin-Berry-56x56.png 56w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kevin-Berry-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 260px, (max-width: 576px) 432px, (max-width: 720px) 540px, (min-width: 720px) 250px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>\n          <div class=\"col-span-3\">\n            <div class=\"my-4 flex-1 content-center font-circular text-lg font-medium text-slate-900 md:mt-0\">\n              Kevin Berry            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <div class=\"text-slate-500 mt-2 leading-6\">\n              <p>Kevin Berry is the Senior Director of Content at Jerry and has been working in the digital content space since 2011 across the car insurance\/repair, personal finance, travel and sports industries. Prior to Jerry, Kevin was a content team lead at NerdWallet overseeing the Multimedia Production and Travel Rewards teams. Previously, he worked for NBC Sports, Comcast Cable and Nike. He has a Master`s Degree from Arkansas State and a Bachelor`s from Oregon State University.<\/p>            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute hidden group-data-[expand=true]:flex bottom-0 w-full h-24 bg-gradient-to-t from-white from-30% to-transparent to-100% items-end justify-center\">\n          <div\n            class=\"flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-center gap-2 my-4 font-circular text-primary\"\n            data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.onItemExpandClick\"\n          >\n            <span class=\"text-sm\">See more<\/span>\n            <span class=\"iconify i--chevron-down text-xs\"><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You can fix your rearview mirror\u2019s loose ball joint by locating the screw and tightening it. If your mirror is still wobbly, it might be time for a new mirror.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":63473,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"single-advice","meta":{"jerry_authors":"[{\"id\":\"5\",\"type\":\"editor\"},{\"id\":\"187\",\"type\":\"editor\"},{\"id\":\"129\",\"type\":\"main-author\"}]","jerry_author_ids":[129],"jerry_idx_page_label":"","jerry_meta_desc":"You can fix your rearview mirror\u2019s loose ball joint by locating the screw and tightening it. If your mirror is still wobbly, it might be time for a new mirror.\r\n","jerry_related_posts":"[6079,5177,9650]","jerry_summary":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[120,621],"class_list":["post-22410","car-repair","type-car-repair","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-car-repair","tag-resource_car_repair"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/car-repair\/22410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/car-repair"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/car-repair"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22410"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/car-repair\/22410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63474,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/car-repair\/22410\/revisions\/63474"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}