Harold57

So I'm going to tie these three posts together for those looking to repair their side mirrors. Obviously, there is this post, see post #1 in this thread.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc4...ml#post8148152

Then see the thread called "Anatomy of a side mirror".
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc4...ml#post2823631

And this video in the "Welcome to Club Lexus" thread
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc4...l#post10736976

All three have very useful information in them.

Harold57

Well, my passenger side mirror started skipping when going down. The first time I tried texsexlex's method of squirting lubricant in behind the mirror and it fixed the problem. The lubricant didn't work this time. So with the help of a neighbor, we disassembled the mirror and discovered that the worm gear has a wear spot in the middle, so the motor's gear can't turn it. (We didn't check the motor's gears, probably should if I can find a worm gear replacement.)

So now for my question, does anyone have a source for the worm gear in the side mirrors? I know that it is expected that these are only available by buying an old mirror and salvaging the worm gear out of the old mirror. They are not available from Toyota/Lexus. I've attached pictures of the worm gear that is attached to the mirror mount.

I can't remember if this shows the width of the ball or the threads. The size and threads indicate that it would be about a M6.5 but not positive on this, as we only had a die for a M6 & M7 and it appeared to be in between those 2.

This shows the width of the square part of the piece.

This shows the length of the piece.

Bgw70

Harold, is that metal or plastic?

The threads look good in your picture

Harold57

I believe that it is nylon.

The threads in the middle are stripped. It is just the up and down piece that is bad, as expected though.

Harold57

I replaced the nylon threaded piece from a donor side mirror (with the help of my neighbor) and it now moves up and down without skipping. So the nylon piece was definitely the problem with my mirror.

Now I just have to wait until my radiator comes in so it can be replaced before I can drive the car again. Just like Tom Petty said, "the waiting is the hardest part"... I want my car back now, especially since we are in the weather sweet spot for convertibles!

Stanisj

Thanks Marty. Great post.
I needed to strip my SC430 wingmirrors for different reasons, and I found your instructions and great picture illustrations REALLY helpful. But for the life of me I don't know how on earth you managed to pinch the second clip. Either you had a magic tool you used or you have incredibly small fingers!!! I simply was unable to get from your photo 5 to photo 5(b).

If anyone else gets stuck at this step, I have an ugly but very effective work around to offer: I used a Dremel to cut away the plastic ‘hiding’ the second (and otherwise totally inaccessible) plastic clip, allowing me to access to ‘pinch’ it the way you suggested.