David,

Excellent pictures.  I must correct my wording.  The "washer" I mention, is
the hemispherical (ball) piece you see/mention.  I was going by memory and
just remembered the flat surface that the spring rests on.  I did not use
any additional stuff to get it not to slip and so far it has not drooped
yet. (but it has also been sitting in the driveway for the last 2 months)

-Dick-

On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 8:48 AM, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net> wrote:

> At 07:15 PM 2/1/2013, sailingfc @dslextreme.com wrote:
>
>> My experience with "DMS" (Droopy Mirror Syndrome) is that the washer under
>> the spring is rusted to the shaft.  Remove the 2 screws holding the mirror
>> to the door.  You will see a nut holding down a spring against a washer.
>>  After a squirt of penetrating fluid, remove the nut and spring.  Apply
>> more penetrating fluid and attempt to remove the washer (disk) from the
>> shaft.  It took me a while to do on my mirror, but it did finally come
>> off.
>>  Clean up the rust on the flat shaft, trial fit the washer back on, if it
>> is tight, more sanding/filing of the shaft is needed.  The washer must
>> slide freely, that's what transfers the spring pressure to the ball &
>> socket to keep it tight and not allow the mirror to droop.  Once
>> everything
>> has clearance, apply some grease on the inner parts/shaft and reassembly.
>>
>
>
>
> This may complement your excellent description quoted in full above:
> https://picasaweb.google.com/**117189706757545167023/**
> VanagonSideMirrorRepair#<https://picasaweb.google.com/117189706757545167023/VanagonSideMirrorRepair#>
>
> Once everything moves freely you do not have to bind up the coils on the
> spring to get things to stay in place properly; there should still be a bit
> of give.
>
> Yours,
> David
>