[AL]

Apart from the glass mirror shake (I too have wedged rubber between the glass and the shell) has anyone done something to permanently end the blistering and failure of the chrome plating?

It is apparent Prevost is content to ship multi million dollar coaches with lousy quality mirrors so maybe there is a way we as a group can find a way to stop the shake and the corrosion because Prevost won’t.

[Larry & Diane]

The wiring connector is in the arm if I remember correctly. Prevost TN did my driver’s side one under warranty. The glass was velcroed on. They used a worn out hacksaw blade to get in and break it loose. I think they taped the part that rubbed on the edge of the housing.

Mine still has the shakes. They said it was next to impossible to get rid of it. It sucks, but I have kind of gotten used to it.

Hey Jeff…how about it…any fix for this?

[JIM]

The shake is from the cheap gear motor that moves the mirror. Getting the mirror glass off separated is a miracle in itself without breaking the glass.

After installing a new Ramco purchased mirror motor (cheap,cheap) and several phone calls the shake was still there. Phone calls to Ramco engineering resulted in send the mirror to us. That done and assured the now factory installed motor, all would be good the mirror still shook the same as my motor change. I even wondered if anything was done other then look at it.

Used a piece of soft pipe insulation to steady the mirror and that is the best change to stop some shake.

Shake results from excessive gear lash on inexpensive plastic gear parts. I did notice the drivers mirror has more shake then the passenger side which Ramco blames on wind forces due to the location.

The plastic gear parts are the problem and Ramco factory is zero help to cure.

[Bill]

Mine don’t shake but the chrome is peeling off in big sheets on top of one mirror on the ’05 Liberty however on the ’98 Vantare the chrome is good… diminished quality over the years and that’s BS those mirrors cost a fortune. They should have a 20 year warranty for what they cost… lots of trouble to take off and have re-chromed too.

[Ken]

Our mirrors don’t shake or rattle. But they are cast aluminum with the “Beaver” logo molded into the case. No need to re chrome, just polish like an airstream.-)))

[Ronald]

Tom,

When I was Coburg I asked them about it… not knowing it was a big issue… they used the hacksaw method to remove the glass and then re-glued it with some sort of special glue… mine still shakes a bit but is way better than it was so you might ask Leon for the details and it might be worth a try…. I will say it looked pretty scary getting the glass off and I could see where breaking it was a good posibility.

Bill

[Archived]

The mirrors on our coach only shake at idle, once we are moving, the shake goes away and everything is fine. Even going in reverse with is enough to remove the shake and provide a clear view with the mirrors.

I have noticed that the passenger side main mirror is hard to adjust. Even the slightest adjustment and it hops a good amount. Takes a couple two three tries to get it just right. Drivers side and both convex mirrors adjust just fine with nice smooth action.

[JIM]

I agree w/ Jim/Chris. I have aluminum (which needs to be re-polished) is easier to have. Aluminum is very difficult to plate and it oxidizes so easily, that any chip or physical defect in the plating (which is only a few thousandths thick) will start the oxidation process, which will peel the chrome off in sheets.

There are fewer and fewer platers good enough to re-plate items like these mirrors. The hexavalent chromium process (which gives a brighter-less blueish color) is on the EPA’s “priority pollutant” list. Those that do re-plate will charge a hefty price. Ask for references and request “show chrome”. Hemmings would be a good place to start looking.

[Archived]

Mine are painted to match bus, and have had no problem with finish flaking or anything. My previous bus had chrome ones, and the finish was terrible.

[jack]

While Bill is correct, what I cannot get past is the fact Ramco produces these mirrors in significant numbers. That gives them clout to get the right plating process for a durable plating. While I agree the sub-surface oxidation is the problem in a lot of cases I have replaced arms that had no issues such as the type associated with surface damage and corrosion beneath the plating, but lack of depth or thickness to the plating resulting in what looks like the plating has just worn off.

If I remember from the good old days when I bought a lot of plating on products we made a good quality chrome finish on aluminum starts with a proper copper plating first, followed by the chrome. I cannot say I have seen evidence of that step on the mirrors. Aluminum is very difficult to finish. Powder Coaters and painters have as much difficulty as platers have and the key is proper pretreatment which varies based on the type of finish being applied.

But from my perspective if a set of mirrors had to cost $200 more than they do now, but the plating will last that seems like a good trade. The arms on my coach look like the chrome has been worn off in places.

[Archived]

C’mon boy’s, some of ya are pulling my chain! I’ve had 6 buses (oh ya, I’ll hear crap about that) and not one of them didn’t have the shakes (as Jdub would say, like a dog pooping a peach pit) so fess up. The bus boy’s are in weed country, so I give them a pass….

I’m thinking about a nice bead of caulk all the way around attaching the mirror edge to the cheap crappy frame. Done right, doubt that it would show and the next guy can remove the caulk strip to adjust his mirrors. Tried the rubber insulation, but it kept coming loose.

Any other ideas for this junk attached to our million dollar buses?

[Larry & Diane]

If I have to take the mirror off of one I make sure I have a spare in stock just in case….I do not like changing the mirror on these anymore than the quality of the arms and motors…..Tom, all the differant things I have tried or seen over the years, I have yet to see anything that FIXES the problem completly…..Ramco should stand up and at least do something like Headhunter…with failure they give you some credit for new…..

[AL]

,

No Sir there big buddy, no shake at idle and none going down the road, Where in the hell are you driving these buses.

If mine did shake I would be changing them till it stopped.

Later

bv

[Jerry]

Tom

Do you never move your mirrors when parking etc. I move mine often

Bill

[Jerry]

How about a set of nice s/s west coast mirrors like we use on our trucks? They even come w/ heat and motors to adjust them. Some even have lights- LEDS too. Then add a couple of 8″ heated convex ones for extra perspective. Then we could add dual CB antennas that light up when we key the mic. Just kidding. Probably not very aerodynamic either.