RACETECH MIRROR INSTALLATION

[DSGreenhalgh]

Couldn't find much on external mirrors so thought i'd post my findings:

RACETECH MIRRORS (Single Seater Convex Glass )
http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p3223/RACETECH-M...

Mirrors arrived and measured the thread to find out they had a imperial thread, guessing they are a American based Company. 1/4" x 28 UNF

Tools Required:

- 1/4" x 28 Tap
- 5.5 mm Drill bit



Fixed the mirrors to the bottom window stanchion as i felt it didn't obstruct my view as much as the upper ones.

Drill out the existing hole with a 5.5mm drill bit. (Make sure you measure the distance to the windscreen so you don't crack it.



Use the 1/4" x 28 UNF tap for threading the hole. The threads of the fixings which came with the mirrors were too long and needed cutting down so they didn't hit the screen. Measure the clearance to the windscreen and cut the threads down to fit and attach the fixing.




The Convex glass gave a much better field of vision, the roll cage slightly obscures the vision on the passenger side depending on where the seat is positioned but the driver side gave a decent field of vision. Good mirror for the price as it wasn't the most expensive at £26.22.

Edited by DSGreenhalgh on Saturday 16th March 16:16

[Murph7355]

Have had the same mirrors on mine for years. Very good. Nice and neat.

[shirt]

i have these on my locost, although mounted on machined ally brackets that locate around the cage. i'll take a pic when i get home.

[Grubbster]

I bought Spa convex mirrors like these http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/mirrors/s...

Easy to fit - remove 1 screw that goes through the stanchion into the screen and use one of the screws supplied through one of the spa mirror mounting holes. This might be all you really need but I also drilled through the other mounting hole through stanchion (behind the screen) and put the other fixing through it with a washer and nut. Jobs a good 'un, take minutes.


Or you can buy these to fit the racetech mirrors http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/mirrors/r...

Edited by Grubbster on Sunday 17th March 16:15

[Gingerbread Man]

Do you guys find that these give a better view back over the standard Caterham mirrors? The Caterham one's appear to have a bigger area to them, but I'm assuming that they are flat glass and these can be specced as convex.

[BJ31]

I have just installed these mirrors on my road going Caterham 7 by following the basis of these instructions (thanks DSG, very well compiled and presented!) and buying the items from Merlin Motorsport at Castle Combe.

To install on a road car, where you will be refitting the doors when required by our wonderful weather, the mounting for the mirrors can be installed on the centre screw position on the windscreen frame (this is dictated by the door hinges overlapping the area where the windscreen frame screw hole would be used for the mirror mounts)

I used exactly the same method as detailed by DSG but would add 2 pieces of additional advice.

1) After you have drilled out the original hole to 5.5mm, in preparation to Tap 1/4 inch 28 UNF, carefully use a 1/4 inch clearance drill on the windscreen stanchions (not the windscreen frame itself!) to ensure you get the same mechanical compression as the original screws from the mirror mount.

2) As the mirror mounts are angled you may find the final position after fully tightening does not allow the correct range of movement for the mirror arm (as these mirrors are intended to be fitted by drilling a clearance hole in the car bodywork, positioning the mount at the optimum angle and then securing in place using the washer and lock nut, creating a threaded hole and screwing into this does not allow this freedom). In my case I found that the LH mount when tightened down was OK to adjust the mirror arm but the RH was angled too forward. In this case I installed the washer that comes with the mirror kit between the body of the mount and the rubber washer. When tightened like this the necessary resulting angle was achieved.

I have also obtained 2 off 1/4 UNF screws which I have cut the length and will fit in place of the mirror mounts during the winter when "doors off" driving will be very unlikely. N.B. fitting these mirrors will result in not being able to open doors to full extent.

[PiersR]

Interesting - I had Racetech mirrors on my R300 when I bought it 8 years ago. I reverted to the standard Caterham mirrors which I found much better.

Piers

[griggsy2]

I installed these Pitking alloy mirrors (£33 from demon tweeks).



No drilling, 5 minutes to fit and can swap back if you need to.

Edited by griggsy2 on Saturday 12th August 16:58