Rear View Mirror Cement

[Dandxj]

Does anyone have any suggestions for a Rear View Mirror cement ? My mirror does not seem to stay attached for more than

a year or so. I am wondering if using the windshield sun screen just bakes the metal button causing the glue to fail. It always seems

to fall off during the summer.

[pizzaman09]

Well, I've usually had great luck with the Permatex mirror adhesive, except for in my Comanche.  The glue worked excellently, but a week after gluing it back on it fell off and pulled a chunk of the windshield glass with it.  Chose to get a new windshield and the installer put the new mirror on so I am not sure what adhesive they utilized.

 

[Salvagedcircuit]

4 hours ago, pizzaman09 said:

Well, I've usually had great luck with the Permatex mirror adhesive, except for in my Comanche.  The glue worked excellently, but a week after gluing it back on it fell off and pulled a chunk of the windshield glass with it.  Chose to get a new windshield and the installer put the new mirror on so I am not sure what adhesive they utilized.

 

Woah there. Wow. That's pretty crazy!

[GonzoTheGreat]

I’ve also had good luck with permatex on two different vehicles. No traumatic windshield damage here. 
 

I’ve also wasted a lot of time with various superglues. They are not the same. Using the permatex glue with good prep work is the only thing that worked long term. Make sure the mating surfaces are completely clean of any chemicals, dirt, or fingerprints. 

[Spinnakerblue89]

I'm not saying I would recommend this, but I'll tell you what worked for me once. 2-part epoxy.

 

Had a windshield replaced on my Mustang. Like a week later the mirror fell off. Used the 3M kit, it fell off again a month or so later. This happened a few more times, and we made sure the surface was clean and we followed the instructions. Finally I just used 2-part epoxy and it never fell off again during the remaining 2½ years that I had it. 

 

Again, not endorsing the idea, just saying what worked for me.

[89 MJ]

36 minutes ago, Spinnakerblue89 said:

Used the 3M kit, it fell off again a month or so later. This happened a few more times, and we made sure the surface was clean and we followed the instructions.

This is what has happened any time one of my family members has done it too. 

[Spinnakerblue89]

1 minute ago, 89 MJ said:

This is what has happened any time one of my family members has done it too. 

I am told that the only real good solution is to take it to a glass shop because they have the "good glue". I can imagine they probably have something better.

[89 MJ]

2 hours ago, Spinnakerblue89 said:

I am told that the only real good solution is to take it to a glass shop because they have the "good glue". I can imagine they probably have something better.

That’s the conclusion I’ve come to as well

[pizzaman09]

I work for a company that makes adhesives.   One day I was looking for a glue to adhere the mirror glass onto the plastic frame of the side view mirror.  

My friends in the adhesive division gave me a urethane based adhesive and some Silane to use as a primer.  It worked great, much better than the two other epoxies I tried, both of which only lasted a year.

 

There is some serious magic in adhesives, and when bonding difficult to bond items, surface prep is key.

[Jeepers8606]

I encountered this issue with my 90 YJ, found a suction cup style rear view mirror, on-line and I'm hooked. Needed one for my MJ as well, on the shelf at a national brand auto parts store, $25.

But surface prep is key as well.

[Crash]

Your local O'Reilly or other parts store should carry the 3M window adhesive.  I use the high bond and works great. 

[watchamakalit]

I used permatex to glue on my ZJ mirror, and it's still there. To be honest I haven't had it out of the driveway\shop since I glued it. We will see if it stays.

[schardein]

I've done many, had a few failures, and mostly successes.  I always thoroughly clean both surfaces, and lightly sand the mounting puck.  Some of the kits include a cleaner or primer pad, and then the instructions usually say to use a tiny drop, "less is more".  The failures I had, I think might have been old stock (how long had the glue been sitting on a shelf?) or I actually used to little, trying to heed the instructions.  When I used a little more, it worked.  I hold the puck firmly in place for a minute or two, then put masking tape over it, then wait 12-24 hours before putting the mirror on.  Then I tightened the set screw only enough to prevent the mirror from moving, I think over-tightening the set screw tends to pop it loose.

To remove a puck, heat it with a Bic lighter, then grab it with pliers and gently twist.  Use more heat if it doesn't move.  If you just grab and pull, you'll break glass.

 

I avoided all that in my CJ by using a SxS mirror that mounts to the roll cage.  Bonus, it's still there when I fold down the windshield.

[GonzoTheGreat]

9 hours ago, schardein said:

I tightened the set screw only enough to prevent the mirror from moving, I think over-tightening the set screw tends to pop it loose

X2 on this. I’ve popped the puck right off by tightening that screw. Definitely be gentle with the set screw.