I did the same fix, essentially but I used a small finish nail.  Cut it
slightly longer than the finished length then make a rivet out of it to keep
it in place.  Worked for me and cost nothing.
  Don Hanson

On Sun, May 9, 2010 at 1:23 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>wrote:

> I commented on sloppy side mirrors a couple weeks ago...here it is:
>
> Too much tightening will pull the bolt out of ball
>  joint.  I fixed it this way:  using a drill press, I bored a 1/8" hole
> through the plastic, through the ball, through the bolt, and out the
> plastic on the other side.  Inserted a 1/8" dia x 1 1/8 long stainless
> steel dowel pin through the hole, "pinning" the bolt into the ball
> (doesn't even have to be perfectly centered).  Worked GREAT, now I can
> tighten to proper tension, nor more floppy mirror.  Worked so well (and
> was so easy and cheap to do) I did it on the other mirror, too.  Been
> that way now for 4 years.  Can barely see the hole when the dowel pin is
>  inserted....it's flush with the surface.
>
> NOTE:  David Beierl commented that he did the same fix as me...except he
> used a roll pin instead of a solid dowel pin.  As I remember, I applied some
> epoxy to the my solid dowel pin to secure it....a roll pin would be better,
> but just happened to have solid dowel pins in my junk drawer so that's what
> I used.
>
> ALSO:  If stud is pulled out of ball partly (probably is), disassemble and
> using a vise squeeze the stud back into the ball before doing the
> cross-drilling operation above.  I think this is what I did 4 years
> ago...hazy memory now.
>
> AND:  To give black mirror housings and rear air vents and front grills an
> as-new look, remove from vehicle, clean real good with rubbing alcohol, then
> apply 2 light coats of Ace Hardware brand satin black spray paint....or
> something similar...looks great, lasts a long time.  Be sure to carefully
> mask your chrome VW emblem on the upper grill....got to keep your van
> looking sharp!
>
> Rich
> 85 GL with
> "normal" mirrors
> San Diego
>
> --- On Sun, 5/9/10, Steve Williams <sbw@SBW.ORG> wrote:
>
> From: Steve Williams <sbw@SBW.ORG>
> Subject: Re: Side mirror fix
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Sunday, May 9, 2010, 12:59 PM
>
> At 12:33 PM 5/9/2010, B Feddish wrote:
> >My passenger side mirror will not stay put. Is there a fix for that
> >or do I need a new one?
>
> I had the same problem on my '84.  Plus I felt I could not see well
> enough through the right-side mirror.
>
> Various vendors offer the later-model electric mirrors when
> available.  They stay put, but they're expensive:
>
> http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_884
>
> If you want to hook up the electric mirrors, the switch
>  is expensive:
>
> http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=3281
>
> GoWest offers truck-style mirrors.  Still expensive:
>
> http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=4039
>
> I didn't want to spend so much money, so I camped out on eBay for a
> few weeks until I was able to pick up electric mirrors, left and
> right, for around $100 each, and a used switch for $15.
>
> I installed the right-side convex mirror a few weeks ago.  It makes a
> huge difference!  Much safer!
>
> Still waiting for the left-side mirror and the switch to arrive.
>