99 headlight question

[atalarico]

Hey all, just dropped some 99 headlights into my 97. They already look way better but I was wondering if someone can look at the driver side reflector and let me know if it looks funky? The passenger side is nice and straight but the drivers is droopy. I’m not sure if that’s intentional or if I should return it (or fix it?).

Thanks!

 

[01thunder]

it is aftermarket so they won't be nice. return it and get another one.

 

[CajunRunner]

Go with OEM for headlight assemblies

Looks droopy...shouldn’t be like that. It’s probably affecting the light throwing pattern.

Once upon a time I put aftermarket ‘99 headlights in my 97. They looked nice during the day but were far inferior in light-throwing capability to my original (and cracked/faded) 97 light assemblies. One trip down the interstate at night and I made a beeline to Toyota the next day and spent the coin for OEM 99 headlight assemblies. 10 years later I’m still glad I spend the money to get this safety item right, and still mad that I wasted any money at all on the cheaper aftermarket copies that didn’t pan out.

Good luck. The most important thing is that you can see well down the road at night.

 

[atalarico]

Thanks for the input all! I'll see about getting an RMA for the driver's one then.

 

[turbo8]

I think the couple sets of TYC replacements that I bought came that way.

I believe it is to aim the light lower on the driver side so you don't blind oncoming traffic.

That being said, their aim was still too low. I retrofitted some projectors into the housings, which are much better.

 

[pauldub]

I think the couple sets of TYC replacements that I bought came that way.

I believe it is to aim the light lower on the driver side so you don't blind oncoming traffic.

That being said, their aim was still too low. I retrofitted some projectors into the housings, which are much better.

You can't just install headlights and expect them to be aimed correctly if you don't aim them. The driver side light is not aimed lower than the the passenger side. The beam should have a flat cutoff beginning on the left and extend most of the way across until it slopes upward on the right side.

 

[Scramble]

I think the couple sets of TYC replacements that I bought came that way.

I believe it is to aim the light lower on the driver side so you don't blind oncoming traffic.

That being said, their aim was still too low. I retrofitted some projectors into the housings, which are much better.

My TYC's came the same way & matched my old OEM's.

 

[turbo8]

You can't just install headlights and expect them to be aimed correctly if you don't aim them. The driver side light is not aimed lower than the the passenger side. The beam should have a flat cutoff beginning on the left and extend most of the way across until it slopes upward on the right side.

I know, I had the adjustments maxed, still too low.

 

[octanejunkie]

In the pic posted the bulb shield looks to be "drooping" which technically should not affect the throw of the light itself much. The bulb shield is not a reflector it shields oncoming drivers from seeing a halo around the bulb (bright spot in the center) or seeing the filament itself in bulbs with uncoated tips.

Check the adjuster screws on the back of the housing compared to your stock ones. I would aim the lights at a wall (from 25') and see where the centers of each respective headlight are - it's very likely you need to make an adjustment to one or both to point your headlights in the right direction and height.

BTW, the did you just get an entire headlight and mounting bracket assembly or just the headlight and you installed it into the stock mounting bracket?

 

[atalarico]

Thanks all! I ordered a replacement one from Amazon just to see and the new one came "drooped" as well, and I didn't have notifications turned on for this thread so I missed how you guys said it looks right.

Also, yeah, I adjusted the aim on mine a couple of nights ago just to see, and it looked fine to me. I'll probably drop some silverstar ultra's in there since this isn't my daily and a 9 month bulb life will be stretched out to a year and some change for me given my 4Runner driving habits. That is unless someone has a better (non-LED) recommendation that is bright and lasts longer than the ultras?

Thanks again!

 

[Scramble]

Thanks all! I ordered a replacement one from Amazon just to see and the new one came "drooped" as well, and I didn't have notifications turned on for this thread so I missed how you guys said it looks right.

Also, yeah, I adjusted the aim on mine a couple of nights ago just to see, and it looked fine to me. I'll probably drop some silverstar ultra's in there since this isn't my daily and a 9 month bulb life will be stretched out to a year and some change for me given my 4Runner driving habits. That is unless someone has a better (non-LED) recommendation that is bright and lasts longer than the ultras?

Thanks again!

I'm using the GE Nighthawk Sport bulbs. Normally half the price ($22) of Silverstars. I bought 3 pair when they were on sale for $16 on Amazon.
Not as bright as the SS but last longer & the color is white not blue which is what I wanted. These bulbs paired with new TYC headlights & 4" PIAA Ion crystal fogs I have no problems seeing at night or in any kind of storm.

https://www.amazon.com/Lighting-900...ts=p_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin:9092560011