Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Mirrors

We're at a complete loss as to why the mirrors inside the house aren't enough for one's vanity. It's as if we're at a time when the car mirrors are installed because car drivers need to be able to check how they look every fifteen minutes when they're inside the car. But we don't blame them; it's hard not to feed our self-confidence every time we see our reflections in the mirror. So to make sure that the mirrors do not fail us during these ego-boosting moments, we listed the solutions to common problems experienced with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 mirrors.

Mirrors with scratches

It is impossible to avoid getting scratches on your car mirrors, particularly the side mirrors, since they are very exposed to the environment. Road debris can hit them, other cars can hit them, and your neighborhood's children can just scratch them for the fun of it. But before you start beating up random kids at your street, you should know that mirrors can get scratched my other things.

Scrapes and marks can also be caused by the cloth you are using when you clean the mirrors. You could be using a rough cloth or newspapers. Either of these, no matter how damp they are, risks hurting the coating of the mirrors as well as damage them.

Mirrors that are loose

Also a common event is when you find the car mirrors to be loosely hanging. Loose rear view mirrors and side view mirrors would not be able to give you the desired angle, hence depriving you a good look at the approaching cars and a good glance at your beautiful face. These problems aren't actually a case of brand difference; any car mirror product is bound to get loose some time.

The mirrors can go loose because of three things: one, the constant readjustments on them; two, the hard slamming of the doors; three, old age. The constant shakes of your car and the repetitive adjustments of their angle are enough to slowly loosen the bolts of the mirrors, while the strong slamming of the doors is a sudden force that can shake the mirrors out.

From a trim designation in the mid-’70s to an award-winning truck in the 2000s, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has proven itself a worthy competitor against trucks from Ford and Dodge. Their light-duty and heavy-duty variants cater to both the workman and the daily driver. From the truck’s debut in 1999, Chevrolet has focused on innovating on performance and design. One component that has changed over the years are its mirrors.

Truck mirrors are reflective components that provide the driver with a better view of the length and rear of the vehicle. These can be found both inside and outside the truck. These parts help the driver approximate distances, observe objects or pedestrians, and anticipate the movement of other vehicles on the road.

There are two types of mirrors installed on Chevy Silverado 1500 trucks: interior rear view mirrors and side-view mirrors.

Interior rear view mirrors

Commonly referred to as simply rear view mirrors, this part helps drivers observe traffic from the back of the truck without turning their back on the steering wheel. These are typically fitted with a convex mirror to accurately reflect images at farther distances. Some rear view mirrors are connected to camera systems that show a live video of the truck’s rear on the mirror’s surface.

Exterior rear view mirrors

Side mirrors are external rear view mirrors that provide the driver with a better view of the length of the vehicle. They are also commonly referred to as wing mirrors. These come in pairs, which are installed on the driver and passenger side.

Towing side mirrors

Towing side mirrors or trailer tow mirrors extend the driver’s vision to include the length of a trailer or vehicle being towed. Most permanent towing mirrors have telescoping capabilities that allow you to slide out the mirror for towing and push it back when not in use.

Portable towing side mirrors

Truck owners who don’t want to replace their mirrors can install portable towing side mirrors to help with towing. Portable tow mirrors may come as a small blind spot mirror with adhesive backing, or as a clip-on mirror attachment,

Foldable side mirrors

Chevy Silverado 1500 trucks feature foldable side mirrors that come with manual or electric mirror adjustment systems.

Manual

Manual folding side mirrors require the driver to physically adjust the component. These mirrors may be moved from outside the vehicle, or through a lever that can be accessed inside the door or window panel.

Power mirrors

Power mirrors are motorized components that use technology which saves the driver’s preferences and adjusts mirror angles at a touch of a button.

If you look closely at the two side mirrors, you’ll notice the warning printed on the mirror on the passenger side. This warning is needed because the mirrors on each side are different. The driver’s side features a flat mirror while the passenger side uses a convex mirror.

If both mirrors were flat, the driver will only see a fraction of the reflection from the passenger side mirror because of the angle and distance of his seat. A convex mirror compensates for this difference by providing the driver with a clear, full view of the right side of the vehicle.

Heated glass

Exterior mirrors with this capability have built-in warming systems that melt ice and frost. This feature ensures that reflected images are visible and clear, even in winter climates.

Auto-dimming mirrors

Rearview mirrors with the auto-dimming function use glass sandwiched between electrochromic gel and electronically conductive coating. The reflection of the mirror is dimmed according to the brightness of ambient light detected by its sensors.

Anti-glare

These day/night mirrors use specialized glass that prevents the driver from being blinded by direct sunlight and bright headlights.

Built-in lights

Some side mirrors come with built-in lights such as turn-signal lights and puddle lights.

There have been three generations of Chevrolet Silverado trucks, each with parts of varying sizes. To help narrow down your search for the right rear and side-view mirrors, simply plug in your vehicle’s year, make, and model into our website’s search engine.

The cost of Chevy Silverado 1500 mirrors varies depending on your truck’s specific year and model. OEM replacement parts typically range between $70 and $3,300. While it is possible to work on this part on your own, we recommend going to a trusted mechanic for proper and secure fitting.

Cracked and blurry mirrors can impair the driver’s vision. This could result in difficulty in making turns and switching lanes. As an external component of your truck, your side mirrors may need replacement because it can get a beating from road debris and changing weather conditions. To keep you and your vehicle safe on the road, it’s important to replace damaged mirrors immediately.

Tighten all loose bolts

The case of a loose mirror is only a step away from the case of the mirror falling out completely. Months of driving on rough roads and countless times when you shut the car door strongly can loosen the torque of the bolts holding your car mirrors. We recommend that you check the bolts, and tighten them if needed, at least twice a year-or more if you are constantly driving on rough roads.

Clean the water droplets immediately

As the scientists put it, water droplets (especially raindrops) have salt content that can harm the coating of your car mirrors. Following the voice of science, we advise you to wipe the mirrors immediately after driving your car out in the rain. Keeping a cleaning cloth in your compartment is a great idea. Also, it would be helpful if you could park your car indoors as much as possible.

Avoid using newspaper when wiping

Newspapers may appear to get the job done but we are here to tell you that they can only make the problem worse. No matter how damp the newspaper is, it still risks scratching the mirror's surface and coating. It is best to use soft cloths or the cleaning fabrics sold in the market for this task.

Make sure to clean gently

Even if you use the softest fabric in the market, you can still damage the mirror if you wipe like you're venting out your anger. We advise you to avoid applying too much force because you can force the glass into the assembly or, worse, can break the glass. Cleaning can be done as often as three to four months, but you are free to do it more often if you live in a dusty city.