Custom rear view mirror bracket

Bionic_Scorpion

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 29, 2019
Messages
291
Location
Tennessee
One thing I have always hated about the TJ is the rear view mirror seems to be mounted way too low. It's like it's right in my eyeline and I'm always moving my head to look around it at intersections. I looked to see if a company made a mounting bracket that possibly attached in place of the footman loop but they do not. I then ran across a post on here where someone made a bracket for theirs so I figured I would do something similar.

I used a piece of 12 ga steel and cut it to shape, drilled the screw holes, broke it to match the slant of the windshield, sand blasted and painted it. I drilled a hole in the rear view mirror mount and tapped it 1/4x20 and did the same to the 3 holes in the upper windshield frame. I used a piece of foam drawer liner to fit between the bracket and the windshield frame and used blue Loctite on the screws. This raised the mirror up about 4" and put it in a much better location for me. I can't even tell a difference when looking through the mirror out the back but it made a huge difference looking out the windshield.

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One thing I have always hated about the TJ is the rear view mirror seems to be mounted way too low. It's like it's right in my eyeline and I'm always moving my head to look around it at intersections. I looked to see if a company made a mounting bracket that possibly attached in place of the footman loop but they do not. I then ran across a post on here where someone made a bracket for theirs so I figured I would do something similar.

I used a piece of 12 ga steel and cut it to shape, drilled the screw holes, broke it to match the slant of the windshield, sand blasted and painted it. I drilled a hole in the rear view mirror mount and tapped it 1/4x20 and did the same to the 3 holes in the upper windshield frame. I used a piece of foam drawer liner to fit between the bracket and the windshield frame and used blue Loctite on the screws. This raised the mirror up about 4" and put it in a much better location for me. I can't even tell a difference when looking through the mirror out the back but it made a huge difference looking out the windshield.

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And how much are you charging to make and ship me one of these :)
 
Mmmm, since we cannot talk you into making and selling them, do you have any dimensions off-hand?
 
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Mmmm, since we cannot talk you into making and selling them, do you have any dimensions off-hand?

The flat base measures 3 1/4" x 1 1/2". The bent piece measures 2" x 1 1/4". I don't remember what degree angle its broke at but I broke it to follow the same angle as the windshield.

I forgot to mention, doing it again I would do it differently. I would put 4 holes in the mount instead of 3. The middle hole is right above the arm on the mirror and I had to cut down an allen wrench to shorten it enough to fit in there to tighten the screw. Using 4 holes would eliminate that problem.
 
One thing I have always hated about the TJ is the rear view mirror seems to be mounted way too low. It's like it's right in my eyeline and I'm always moving my head to look around it at intersections. I looked to see if a company made a mounting bracket that possibly attached in place of the footman loop but they do not. I then ran across a post on here where someone made a bracket for theirs so I figured I would do something similar.

I used a piece of 12 ga steel and cut it to shape, drilled the screw holes, broke it to match the slant of the windshield, sand blasted and painted it. I drilled a hole in the rear view mirror mount and tapped it 1/4x20 and did the same to the 3 holes in the upper windshield frame. I used a piece of foam drawer liner to fit between the bracket and the windshield frame and used blue Loctite on the screws. This raised the mirror up about 4" and put it in a much better location for me. I can't even tell a difference when looking through the mirror out the back but it made a huge difference looking out the windshield.

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Nice job!
 
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This looks like a good solution! If you wanted to make it adjustable for any reason you could hinge the point where it bends and keep it tight with a bolt and wingnut. Probably not necessary but it would be cool if you could flip it up out of the way to clean the windshield. Or when you just want a clean view out the front.

Did you tap the threads directly into the windshield frame? The metal was thick enough?
 
This looks like a good solution! If you wanted to make it adjustable for any reason you could hinge the point where it bends and keep it tight with a bolt and wingnut. Probably not necessary but it would be cool if you could flip it up out of the way to clean the windshield. Or when you just want a clean view out the front.

Did you tap the threads directly into the windshield frame? The metal was thick enough?
You can flip the mirror upside down and raise it up almost completely out of the way.

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Cleaning behind it is also not a problem since its further away from the windshield.

Yeah I tapped the holes in the frame. I believe it's around maybe 3/32" thick.
 
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One thing I have always hated about the TJ is the rear view mirror seems to be mounted way too low. It's like it's right in my eyeline and I'm always moving my head to look around it at intersections. I looked to see if a company made a mounting bracket that possibly attached in place of the footman loop but they do not. I then ran across a post on here where someone made a bracket for theirs so I figured I would do something similar.

I used a piece of 12 ga steel and cut it to shape, drilled the screw holes, broke it to match the slant of the windshield, sand blasted and painted it. I drilled a hole in the rear view mirror mount and tapped it 1/4x20 and did the same to the 3 holes in the upper windshield frame. I used a piece of foam drawer liner to fit between the bracket and the windshield frame and used blue Loctite on the screws. This raised the mirror up about 4" and put it in a much better location for me. I can't even tell a difference when looking through the mirror out the back but it made a huge difference looking out the windshield.

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I really liked your DIY Mirror bracket and the fact that it raised the unit. I checked and my 05 has a plastic windshield frame cover. I am not sure if I can mod it or not but I really liked what you did, excellent job and great pics. You ride is really clean and the tan interior / top really sets it off.
 
I really liked your DIY Mirror bracket and the fact that it raised the unit. I checked and my 05 has a plastic windshield frame cover. I am not sure if I can mod it or not but I really liked what you did, excellent job and great pics. You ride is really clean and the tan interior / top really sets it off.
Thanks buddy, I appreciate it.
 
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Thanks buddy, I appreciate it.

Same problem…. But less tools (toys😊)…had to get creative.
My 2003 did not come with a rear view mirror.
So I bought one…..fooled with it for an hour…. Wanted to fit it on the Footman Loop.
It almost slid under it but the mirror gizmo that glues onto glass was too long….would not allow it to snug under Loop…. So I sanded about 3/16” off end …making it short enough to be forced under and allow Loop to hold it down at the ball joint. Still a little wiggly so I posted two rubber grommets on each side.

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Same problem…. But less tools (toys😊)…had to get creative.
My 2003 did not come with a rear view mirror.
So I bought one…..fooled with it for an hour…. Wanted to fit it on the Footman Loop.
It almost slid under it but the mirror gizmo that glues onto glass was too long….would not allow it to snug under Loop…. So I sanded about 3/16” off end …making it short enough to be forced under and allow Loop to hold it down at the ball joint. Still a little wiggly so I posted two rubber grommets on each side.

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There's always a way. Good job.