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Mirror Riser broke windshield

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by bloggerstomper, Mar 10, 2021.

  1. Mar 10, 2021 at 10:17 AM
    #1
    bloggerstomper

    bloggerstomper [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hi all!

    I purchased the mirror riser from Bird Dawg industries in December and installed it without any issues following their instructions.

    I have had my truck out in the street for about a week (I was traveling) and when I got back the mirror assembly was on the passenger seat, along with a chunk of my windshield.

    Has this happened to anyone else or I'm just super lucky?

    Thank you in advance!

    b77d3590-7223-4ba9-b1dc-ab2cbde8cef8.jpg
     
  2. Mar 10, 2021 at 10:21 AM
    #2
    plurpimpin

    plurpimpin Well-Known Member

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    I've had a mirror riser installed in my truck for a decade now with no issues. Mine was made by another member on here, not Bird Dawg so it doesn't have the ram mount on it.

    By any chance did you have anything large/heavy mounted to the ram mount? It looks like the mirror was ripped off so extra weight is one thing that jumps out at me as a potential cause.
     
  3. Mar 10, 2021 at 10:23 AM
    #3
    bloggerstomper

    bloggerstomper [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for your answer!
    I didn't have anything on the RAM mount, no. No extra weight!
     
  4. Mar 10, 2021 at 10:24 AM
    #4
    plurpimpin

    plurpimpin Well-Known Member

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    Did you have a ram ball installed? Looking at the install instructions on their website it looks like too long of screws mounting a ram ball could also cause issues.
     
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  5. Mar 10, 2021 at 10:27 AM
    #5
    bloggerstomper

    bloggerstomper [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I had the RAM mount installed, but I used the screws they provided
     
  6. Mar 10, 2021 at 10:30 AM
    #6
    gibby11

    gibby11 Well-Known Member

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    Identical thing happened to me a couple years ago. I ended up using JB weld on the broken glass piece and put it back on then that failed a year later and actually caused a crack to go all the way down my windshield. My guess was the set screw was a torqued a little too tight. On a 110 degree day it rained and I believe due to the temperature fluctuation at such a rapid pace the glass broke at it’s weakest point.

    I got a windshield replacement and put the same bracket on and just barely snugged up the set screw and it has been fine for the past 6 months I’ve had it (knock on wood).
     
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  7. Mar 10, 2021 at 10:30 AM
    #7
    Biscuits

    Biscuits Thorny Crown of Entropy

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    Swiggity swangin' biggity bangin'
    I recall seeing a thread a few years ago about this same thing happening.

    -edit-

    Just did a quick Google search. There have been numerous threads about this exact issue and cause. Sorry man.
     
    uurx likes this.
  8. Mar 10, 2021 at 10:32 AM
    #8
    bloggerstomper

    bloggerstomper [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I honestly got the screw not very tight because I was worried about it causing stress to the mounting point... I guess I will have to get the entire windshield replaced tho...
     
  9. Mar 10, 2021 at 10:35 AM
    #9
    Pyrotech

    Pyrotech Well-Known Member

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    Been running mine for two years With some mild off road driving . So far has been no issues at all. If I have to move the mirror I use two hands. One to support the riser and one to move the mirror. Figure it cant hurt.

    If you move the mirror alot perhaps you created a small micro crack and over time heat and cooling cycles caused it to break off
     
  10. Mar 10, 2021 at 10:46 AM
    #10
    outxider

    outxider Never stop exploring. Rest in Paradise Big Bro.

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    A few mods here and there and counting....
    There is too much load at the oem mounting location. I applied a strip of 3M tape at the top of the Birddawg bracket to help distribute the weight. Been fine for the past 3+ years.
     
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  11. Mar 10, 2021 at 10:57 AM
    #11
    bloggerstomper

    bloggerstomper [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I guess I will have to do that once I replace the windshield!
     
  12. Mar 10, 2021 at 11:12 AM
    #12
    bloggerstomper

    bloggerstomper [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Has anyone heard of any solutions or explanations from Bird Dawg? I emailed them this morning, but maybe someone else has had to deal with this and has more info
     
  13. Mar 10, 2021 at 2:02 PM
    #13
    huyner

    huyner CoCKaSiAn

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    a lotta money spent, lotta scars made
    I read the whole thread on that product and a lot of people were having that issue.
     
  14. Mar 10, 2021 at 2:16 PM
    #14
    bloggerstomper

    bloggerstomper [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Damn.. do you have the link by chance??
     
  15. Mar 10, 2021 at 2:32 PM
    #15
    huyner

    huyner CoCKaSiAn

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    a lotta money spent, lotta scars made
    It’s been a min since I read up on it. I was looking up how people were mounting their phones n I can across it.
     
  16. Mar 10, 2021 at 2:46 PM
    #16
    Richie Rich

    Richie Rich Toyota Hoarder

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    More than I can afford
    Using one of those resulted in a cracked windshield for me as well.

    Never had a Ram ball on it or anything mounted. Didn’t jump the truck or adjust the mirror much, I am the only driver of my truck. I was on my X-Runner, not my 4x4.

    Had to replace the windshield. Lesson learned, riser is now in a parts box somewhere around here.
     
  17. Mar 10, 2021 at 2:46 PM
    #17
    bloggerstomper

    bloggerstomper [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I'm not too keen on using it anymore. I hope he accepts returns.
     
  18. Mar 10, 2021 at 4:01 PM
    #18
    outxider

    outxider Never stop exploring. Rest in Paradise Big Bro.

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    A few mods here and there and counting....
    The reason because there is a fair amount of weight via leverage onto the oem mounting spot. Add some adhesive ie 3M mounting tape to the upper part of the riser where it contacts the glass and you'll be fine. Yes, these have been documented before with cracked windshields and then there are many who ran these successfully for years, myself included.
     
  19. Mar 10, 2021 at 4:42 PM
    #19
    bloggerstomper

    bloggerstomper [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It's a little bit late for that now. I don't think I want to put the riser on a brand new windshield after spending 300$ on it.
     
  20. Mar 10, 2021 at 6:26 PM
    #20
    Sidney Vicious

    Sidney Vicious Well-Known Member

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    Interesting to note the effect of literally in your face over stressing to the stock windshield by adding a riser. Makes me wonder about the not so readily apparent effect of the after-market lifting done around this place.
     
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