Headlamp Replacement...Adjustments required?

[slyfox75]

I have new headlamps I am planning on installing this weekend. I never really thought about it 'til today but do they just bolt in and DONE or do they have to be installed and then adjusted so the bulbs point in the correct orientation? And if so ......do I just park truck in garage turn on current lamps and mark the center of the light as best I can on the wall and then try to replicate with the new lamps or is there a better way???

 

[morphious]

After I raised my truck the headlights were aiming too high so I looked at the repair manual on adjusting the headlights and said forget it. I ended up matching the aim against a wall with my F150 and done.

 

[sonerick]

I think you're supposed to have a 2.5" drop in the beam at a distance of 25'. The procedure in the repair manual is probably pretty involved, but if you want a quick and dirty method basically what you do is this:

1. On flat level ground pull up perpendicular to a wall or garage door (few inches away). Mark the center of your headlight beam cutoff on both sides.

2. Back up straight 25', again level ground.

3. Adjust headlamps on both sides so the cutoffs stay centered horizontally with your original marks, but the cutoffs are 2.5" lower vertically than your original marks. Do this one at a time, covering the other side with a rag or something.

And that's it, not too bad and you won't be blinding anyone. For lifted trucks, you might have to go a little lower.

 

[Kmvreter]

... then try to replicate with the new lamps or is there a better way???

That sounds reasonable. Some adjustment may be necessary. See the attached aiming instructions from the '04 FSM:

 

[eddiebx]

I have new headlamps I am planning on installing this weekend. I never really thought about it 'til today but do they just bolt in and DONE or do they have to be installed and then adjusted so the bulbs point in the correct orientation? And if so ......do I just park truck in garage turn on current lamps and mark the center of the light as best I can on the wall and then try to replicate with the new lamps or is there a better way???

If you are happy with your current head light aim, just replace one at a time. ie. replace one, go out and align it to the original one that's left; then replace the other one and align that to the freshly aligned one. This way you will end up with pretty much the same exact aim as before