Jaguar is a 1959 Mark 1. Inside rear view mirror hangs down with a ball /socket arrangement that allows adjustment to the desired position. My problem is that the mirror will NOT stay in the desired position, but will get cast downward very quickly giving me a nice look at the rear passenger seat. Also, this mirror will shake so much that its impossible to really focus on anything one sees in it. Any way to add some stabilizing compound (superglue ?) to this ball / socket arrangement ? It appears that the socket could possibly be pinched in slighly to add some gripping power, but I'm reluctant to do so for fear of breaking off the connection entirely. Not to mention its near impossible to work on because the windshield is very close.
Thanks for your thoughts !
Schmitty

 

not sure this will be any help, but...

the rear-view mirror in my 1967 Mk2 was doing pretty much the same thing. upon disassembly i discovered the problem was that the threaded collar that tightened the brass choker around the ball was partly stripped and wouldn't tighten down completely. i used a bit of teflon tape to support the threads and got it tight enough to do the job....barely.

even the car dealer's service department where i bought the car couldn't figure it out. although, i doubt they tried all that hard...

 

replace it with an S type mirror. eBay.

 

Agree with Jose. Replace the mirror.

 

thanks guys !
Schmitty

 

there is an S type mirror on eBay for $142.00 and another for $110.00. but the chromed stem looks pitted.

 

My issue with the new mirror approach is that on my Mark 1 the mirror mounting bracket is underneath the roof lining ...and I'm not willing to take that apart to install a new mirror bracket.
Schmitty

 

As I recall, the MK2, S type, and 420 all have the same mirror arrangement. There's a small, sort of triangular plate that is attached to the roof by 3 screws that go through the roof lining. A rod is screwed into the bracket at one end and attaches to the mirror by a ball joint at the other.

Mine was OK up to 80 mph and then would vibrate like crazy. I think the rod isn't very stiff and has no damping. Fortunately, the image in the mirror didn't move as much as the mirror itself and, in those days, I didn't bother to fix it. I'd guess the options are to add some weight or damping or, perhaps best of all, lightly attach the rod to the windscreen with some rubber. It shouldn't need much to calm the vibration. It might also stop the mirror slipping on its ball joint.

 

in that case tape a thick piece of cardboard to the inner glass behind the mirror and using pliers, try to tighten the "ball" pivot holder carefully without pressing on the glass. Yes you might have to pull down the headliner.

 

I was thinking of a small rubber disc (a slice from a stopper or some washers glued together) that makes a firm fit between the rod and the glass held in place by a dot of adhesive. For the ball joint, I don't remember how it's arranged, tighten it mechanically or insert some tape (PTFE?).

 

A certain scribe, namely John Bolster commented "furthermore, the rear passengers receive a much less hectic ride in the S Type vs Mk1 & Mk2 ". No shaking rearview mirrors with the IRS.

 

I'd attributed the shaky mirror in my car to a resonance rather than limitations on ride quality. It appeared at a little over 80 m/h on smooth surfaces. If the S type and 420 don't suffer from the problem, it might be a resonance excited by the prop shaft or something in the body structure. If/when the rebuild is done, I might find out more.

 

My mirror does not shake so I don't think it is resonance. No shakes at all. I suppose if you hit a bump hard enough it might shake.

 

I'm going to try a small strip of clear packaging tape and if that doesn't work, then I will consider the pliers to try and tighten up the socket. Thanks for your thoughts guys !

Glyn, not all of us have the necessary style, class and smarts to have bought an S type !

 

Resonance can be extremely destructive. Enjoy your Mk1

 

I read an article somewhere about "sympathetic resonance" in the XJ-6 and how Jaguar cured it. Maybe it was in Jag Lovers.
It happens in all cars, manufacturers deal with it.

I am not convinced you have a resonance issue, you have a vibration issue because your mirror is worn out and loose at the pivot ball.

I am not familiar with the mounting of the MK-1 rearview mirror.

 

It happens in many types of vehicle with rotating machinery. Its resolution is a matter of isolating the source of excitation and/or adding damping to the item that resonates. Although poor balance of the rotating component can make things worse, 'perfect' balance doesn't necessarily make it go away. In conventional rear wheel drive cars, the prop shaft, diff, drive shafts, and wheels are the items to isolate usually at the rear engine/gearbox mount and rear suspension mounts. All Jaguars are pretty good at isolation, but the pieces of rubber and springs that do the work deteriorate and their replacements don't always have the same properties as the original. A vibrating rear view mirror is relatively tolerable and most likely resolved with some damping. Floor vibration is, for me, much more irritating, both in a well known German car in the 1990s and in certain 3-engined American airliners - nothing better for putting me in a good mood to meet customers!

 

Schmitty, Mk1's can be turned into beautiful motor cars.

 

Glyn, Sure wish I had another $20 Grand of "mad money" to put into my Mark 1. The one you show a photo of is what I'd like mine to resemble !
Schmitty