OK, so first, as everyone knows...these mirrors do not come off easy! Another point to clarify, I ordered the MOPAR parts because there was no written warning as with the Rugged Ridge that the passenger side mirror would be partuially impeded. However, it turns out that other than the shipping box, they are in fact the same! They even include the same instructions and part numbers!

Back to the install...I ultimately had to remove the mirrors from the Jeep and get some chemical called PB Blaster

After a few hours later and multiple applications...and even some pounding with a screw driver and a rubber mallet, they came free! You have to be careful not to drop them...that would be bad!

Here are some pics of the corrosion on the bolt from inside the mirror bracket and inside the factory bracket. They are made of aluminum and had all sorts of white corrosion junk gumming them up. [ATTACH][/ATTACH]

Finally a shot of the finished product.

Regardless of the passenger side issue, I want to roll all summer long, as much as possible, doorless and then there will be no problem! I figure I can buy that secondary mirror everyone mentions...will try and see how that works out, but for now am excited to have done a mod all by myself and look forward to my first doorless day with mirrors!

 

Me and the wife just threw on 3K in parts and those damn mirrors were the biggest pain!

 

Funniest part was that I got these Friday after work...came home, looked at instructions and thought...no problem...20 mins tops! Like I said in original post I just finsihed them tonight! Went wheeling yesterday and read the forum and went to Lowe's to get PB Blaster...definitely not a 20 min job!

 

Whats even funnier is you probably got hosed paying for MOPAR instead of RR, that sucks

 

Nope. I read on this forum that the Mopar brackets had the same problem...yet this was not disclosed on seller's website. I contacted seller and they shipped the RR parts to me and credited back the difference upon receipt of Mopar brackets.

 

Good deal, at least you got your money back!

 

OK guys... give it to me.. What works and what does not.

As the Jeeps get older this problem gets worse and the last thing we want are people breaking parts to try and install the relocation brackets. In the past the WD-40 and or PB-Balster have worked great but it sounds like the elements are working against this. I will be meeting with a couple of our guys to see what can be changed. This will include a revision to the instructions with better (safe) solutions to removing the oxidized mirror heads... We may also include a longer bolt so that it can be threaded all the way into the mirror so that you don't risk striping threads if you hit it with the "RUBBER" mallet. Just blaze away or give some help.. It's your call.

Why Jeep had to spot painting the aluminum brackets I'll never know... I guess if you can save .02 cents a Jeep or about $1,800 a year you would do it to.

 

wow... didn't know that was a hard mod..

I currently still hesitate between relocation bracket from RR and another set of "summer mirror" like:
http://www.quadratec.com/products/im...7%2F267-lg.jpg

both cost near the same price..

 

I will consider myself lucky then I just put my relocation brackets on a month or so ago and had very little issues. The passengers side was a bit more difficult, but came off on second attempt. Had original mirrors on for just shy of three years. Looks like I will not win the lottery now, since all my luck was used on the brackets.

 

I guess I'll buy a lottery ticket BEFORE swapping my mirror..... just in case..