n00b Question. LED brake lights.

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Old Aug 6, 2013 | 08:49 PM
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LonestarROB's Avatar
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n00b Question. LED brake lights.

I am looking to replace the factory tail/brake light bulbs with LED's. It's a 2008 F-150 which means the lights are 3157's correct? Well I got a cheap pair from autolumination once before and my brother complained because they weren't bright enough. Could barely tell I was braking.

So, is it because they were cheap or is there a certain kind of LED bulb I need? Or what?

Thanks for any help,

Rob
 
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Old Aug 6, 2013 | 08:54 PM
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Cheap leds generally aren't bright, you really get what you pay for.
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 08:51 AM
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Just simple as that? How much are we talking about here? I mean I've seen some taillight LED's on vLED's for like $150+ a piece! I can't afford that .

Rob
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 09:54 AM
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really depends on the style of bulb you get....ya gotta do some research before you pull the trigger...
 
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Old Aug 8, 2013 | 10:11 AM
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Always so helpful, 88.
 
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Old Aug 8, 2013 | 11:09 AM
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I usually use the smt 120 high tower sms wide angle ones from AI
 
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Old Aug 8, 2013 | 11:54 AM
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Or some Cree leds.
 
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Old Aug 9, 2013 | 12:16 AM
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LEDs in factory reflective housings and cheap quality LEDs is the issue. The LEDs look better but in a factory housing they do not reflect light properly. A cheap set of LED taillamps would be better than what you are running now because those are d.o.t approved.
 
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Old Aug 9, 2013 | 01:52 AM
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$23 in parts and did both of my mains and CHMSL. Twice as bright as a stock bulb

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Recon LED replacement lamps on the left, homemade LEDs in OE housing on right

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Last edited by Raptor05121; Aug 9, 2013 at 01:57 AM.
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Old Aug 9, 2013 | 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by DarrenWS6
A cheap set of LED taillamps would be better than what you are running now because those are d.o.t approved.
Yea I know, but nobody has made any decent LED tails for flaresides.

Raptor, not really interested in taking my lights apart, but could you give me some more information? Where you purchased the parts, how you mounted/secured it, etc?

Thanks
Rob
 
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Old Aug 9, 2013 | 05:53 PM
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I got all of my stuff from DigiKey. You need two PWM's with pot's on them to control running light brightness and its recommended to seal them to be waterproof. LEDs on a PCB, add resistors, epoxy them into the lights, seal them up and wire into the PWMs and you're good to go.
 
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