Replacement Headlights
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 86
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From: TEXAS
Replacement Headlights
Has anyone replaced their headlights with aftermarket or factory replacements? Just seeing what to do or what to stay away from for replacing my chipping/cracked stock headlights. Turn signal and side marker both look great. truck is a 1996 f150 single cab with chrome grill and trim.
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Joined: Aug 2010
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well first if u dont have very small hands i found it easyer to lift the battery out of the tray to get the bolts out on the passenger side and on the drivers side just unbolt n slide over the overflow tank.
once they are out taking the headlight off the assembly is a catch 22 the mounting holes sometimes break off not all the time but 2 of the 3 i did just snaped
the cheapest best way id say to go is go to a junk yard find decent ones that u can clean up with headlight cleaner n just swap tthem dont have to worrie about breaking the trim and it will be cheaper
once they are out taking the headlight off the assembly is a catch 22 the mounting holes sometimes break off not all the time but 2 of the 3 i did just snaped
the cheapest best way id say to go is go to a junk yard find decent ones that u can clean up with headlight cleaner n just swap tthem dont have to worrie about breaking the trim and it will be cheaper
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,495
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From: Memphis, TN 38135, USA, Earth
I put the cheapest ones RockAuto sells in my '94 CV, my mother's '98 MGM, and my '97 K3500, and they all look great. The oldest are in my CV, and they don't appear to have aged all. The car has been parked outdoors uncovered since they were installed.
My mother parks under a carport (and she lives 5hrs away), and I only changed the '97s last week.
To remove them, open the hood & pull out the 2 rubber fillers (#2 in the diagram) between the core support (#11 in the diagram) & grille reinforcement (#5 in the diagram). Use snap ring pliers or a long pick to release the 3 metal clips (#22 in the diagram) on the splined plastic adjuster nuts (#27 in the diagram). They're VERY difficult, but ultimately, they just have to slide straight up. Then pull the headlight (#19 in the diagram) out of the grille, unplug the bulb (or remove it if you want to reuse your bulbs), and discard the h/l. Tuck the connector (or bulb) back inside the grille and inspect the new headlight. One of the adjuster nuts has NO adjuster bolt (top outboard). Place the h/l fully into place (aligning the splined nuts with the holes), but DON'T install the bulb/connector or clips. Note the fore/aft position of the corner of the h/l closest to the NON-adjustable nut. Remove the h/l and adjust that nut by hand so that corner of the h/l is flush with the grille when fully installed. It will take a few tries. Once you're satisfied, install the bulb/connector, put the h/l into place, and install the clips. Then aim the h/l using a 4mm socket.
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My mother parks under a carport (and she lives 5hrs away), and I only changed the '97s last week.
To remove them, open the hood & pull out the 2 rubber fillers (#2 in the diagram) between the core support (#11 in the diagram) & grille reinforcement (#5 in the diagram). Use snap ring pliers or a long pick to release the 3 metal clips (#22 in the diagram) on the splined plastic adjuster nuts (#27 in the diagram). They're VERY difficult, but ultimately, they just have to slide straight up. Then pull the headlight (#19 in the diagram) out of the grille, unplug the bulb (or remove it if you want to reuse your bulbs), and discard the h/l. Tuck the connector (or bulb) back inside the grille and inspect the new headlight. One of the adjuster nuts has NO adjuster bolt (top outboard). Place the h/l fully into place (aligning the splined nuts with the holes), but DON'T install the bulb/connector or clips. Note the fore/aft position of the corner of the h/l closest to the NON-adjustable nut. Remove the h/l and adjust that nut by hand so that corner of the h/l is flush with the grille when fully installed. It will take a few tries. Once you're satisfied, install the bulb/connector, put the h/l into place, and install the clips. Then aim the h/l using a 4mm socket.
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Last edited by Steve83; Oct 1, 2011 at 12:17 AM.
Well....since I am a rich **** enlisted military I went all out with euro lenses from LMC. I got the headlights and the side markers for around $200. I didn't take long to swap em out. I did reuse the adjuster since its a pain in the *** to replace. Looks great. I do think LMC is a little pricey but my originals had condensation in em and the inspection guy failed me so I was in a bit of a hurry to get replacements and get em on.