John wrote:
"EricP" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 25 Oct 2008 07:52:14 -0700 (PDT), Thomarse
wrote:

My dearest 3 year old son has broken the rear view mirror in my car.
he twisted it round on itself and the ball has come out of the socket.

I have tried to push the metal ball (cast) back into the tube arm it
has come out of but it wont go in no mater how hard I try. Obviously
the end of the tube is slightly rounded and smaller than the ball
itself so when it is in there the mirror pivots on it without coming
out. When he twisted it he oviously created some leverage that yanked
it form its socket.. unfortunately for me getting it back in seems to
be alot trickier!

any ideas how I can do this? Nothing is really broiken as such so I
dont want to pay for a new one unless I have to.. its just he ball
socket joint thats come apart but wont go back together!!!

Kids!
Is there some allen key/screw adjuster on the socket so you can
tighten/release the grip on the ball??

I wouldn't try freezing as: 1. The cast metal is already quite brittle -
when colder it may be more brittle. 2. A few thou is unlikely to make a
difference.

Have you carefully checked all around the ball - sometimes they are not
spherical and may slip in more readily in a certain position. I agree with
lube.


If its a metal ball in a plastic housing chances are it was fitted in a
press.

Basically a lot of force and it pops in.

Before the glass mirror as attached..