Mirror Cap Removal

Anyone know how to remove the mirror caps on a Gen 1 (without breaking anything)?

 

How’d this go? I’d like to do it soon. Looks like there’s six tabs. Four easy ones, two hard to get to. Did you get it done?

 

I successfully removed one cap without breaking any tabs and only broke one tab on the other. The tab which broke is inaccessible. All the other tabs need to be disengaged prior and this inaccessible one left for last as the cap is manipulated at an angle out of the tab hole. A curved hook blade was used for the other hard to reach one.

I removed the mirror face to access and see the tabs.

Used flat screw driver to push the tabs one at a time and then wedged AS I WENT ALONG a popsicle stick between the main assy body and the cover. This holds a slight tension on the cover and also keeps the cover from reengaging back into the slots I gained ground on. You could make some hard cardboard wedges in lieu of the sticks.

I took ‘how to’ pics and posted them here somewhere last year on this, but its buried. Start with the easy ones. Insert your wedges and cherry pick the easier tabs until the inaccessible one is left for last. If it breaks, just use a small dab of adhesive to hold on reinstall where the tab is no longer.

I used 1D6 lacquer color match and clear coat.

 

It's not easy without breaking any tabs. I broke one tab per side on mine.

 

Perhaps this is it !
What have you done to your 1st gen Tundra today?

 

You are the man for this find!

Another note: One of these mirror caps (an entire assy) may be aftermarket as years ago some goofy guy backed into my side view. Insurance paid for a new one and its one of those ‘objects appear smaller types’. Shoulda rejected it!