Hi, thought I'd share my success adding 12 rubber flat plumbing washers to both my side view mirrors to reduce shaking of the glass, during idle & loud music etc.

98 Saturn SC2.

My left mirror is cable controlled, the right is electric remote.
These are replacements for the OEM mirrors which both got destroyed through collisions of some kind over 2 years.
The replacement complete mirrors housing is black and I decided not to try to repaint them the white to match my OEM match car color look.
They look good. They might be slightly flimsy compared to oem but they were very affordable on Amazon.
I had already dealt with mirror shaking at idle last year but replaced my top side motor mount which helped a lot.

So when I put these replacement mirors on, I noticed the driver's mirror especially I saw some minor shaking.

So I bought from HomeD some 1/2"L flat plumbing washers, 10 to a pack. I was able to add washers to both sides of the 3 stud mounts for each mirror. I didn't need to drill the washers holes larger although it is a bit tight to slide onto the threaded shaft.
I was careful not to over tighten the 10mm nuts at all so that the rubber would not be compressed much and do it's job.
The mirrors triangle body does stand out slightly than before but there is still fairly good contact to the door frame and looks fine.

I also tried adding some small rubber o rings under the 3 Philips screws which hold the mirror body to the vertical body. But there was no insulating effect.
Also the rubber washers might help the mirrors not break upon light impacts with them, providing more give before breaking.

Now the glass shaking is just perceivable or not perceivable.
So far I'm happy with the rubber washers, so I thought I'd share.




Take care

 

The OEM mirror assemblies are heavier, which is part of the reason they don't vibrate under normal circumstances. They are also made to a reasonable tolerance so that the edges on the outside of the car sit flush with the door trim, etc.

I believe the mounting posts that stick through the holes in the door are also sturdier on the OEM assemblies than the aftermarket crap. Can't tell you how many of those Mount posts on the aftermarket ones I've cracked just bumping into my mirror walking between my two cars in the garage.

Make sure after a few good rains or a hose test that the separation you've created between the door body and the edges of the mirror assembly is not allowing water into the door frame. The plastic covers should protect the speakers but not necessarily. That and you don't want the bottom of the door rusting.
I thought about putting half a pound of duct seal behind the mirror to weigh the whole thing down, but those posts break so easily I never bothered to try. More mass equals lower resonance frequency.

 

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Thanks
Some great points.
I’ll see how long these last…

My pass side got obliterated when 2 homeless people were apparently arguing and the one pushed the other out into the 35mph street I was driving on.
They were eventually ok because they both ran off in opposite directions.

Also blew out my side window and cracked the windshield and slightly bent the door’s upper sheet metal. I was able to repair it all.

The drivers side was the city’s slow plows, like a rock in the snow or…

It is a shame they hadn’t started using side mirrors which can fold in upon impact.

Still a great car to drive and lots of life left.

Thanks