Projector Retrofit Aiming Adjustments

[T4Rfirefighter]

Check out this thread as well. Rickashay was the projector expert and created this awesome thread for a guideline. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/130317-**how-properly-aim-projector-headlights**.html

I've read that thread plenty of times as well. Again, my lights are adjusted correctly according to all these threads. The issue is the bottom of the glass on the housing is pushed way out.

I believe the projector may not be aligned properly within the housing, but I do not know of a way to adjust that since it only has the large threaded body that holds it into the housing.

 

[MTD]

How do you change the aim of a threaded body projector like the D2S? It doesn't have the adjusters like the FX-Rs do for the projector itself.

Do I just need to snug down the retaining nut on the projector?

you have to bend the tabs on the 9003 adapter plate. They go over how to do it briefly in the MD2S install guide on TRS.

My guess though is that since you have your rubber O ring on the wrong side the projectors are drooping. In fact that is your issue! because the projector refrences of that back side of the socket. If you have it on the wrong side instead of snugging up nice it will compress more on the bottom and let the projector droop down.

Take it apart and set it up like this and it should eliminate your problem. If there is small tweaks to be made then you can try bending those tabs.

 

[T4Rfirefighter]

Mine is set up like the picture. Still think I need to bend the adapter plate? I've not seen anybody else have to do that on a 4Runner.

 

[D Farms]

so let me get this straight, you have aimed your headlights and at the level you want, they are pointed up so the bottom is sticking out. let me tell you why, you probably have a lot of rake in your suspension, the truck is made for the body to sit horizontal, the body is now pointed down, so to compensate you had to aim the headlights up.

a few things you can do:
1. lift the front up more or lower the back to level the truck.
2. get a tapered body lift to keep the frame rake but level the body.
3. wedge the projectors internally by making a tapered shim.
4. get a steel stick jb weld, mount the headlight and just glue the projector in where you want it.
5. aim your headlights lower.
6. live with it.

have a nice day.

 

[T4Rfirefighter]

so let me get this straight, you have aimed your headlights and at the level you want, they are pointed up so the bottom is sticking out. let me tell you why, you probably have a lot of rake in your suspension, the truck is made for the body to sit horizontal, the body is now pointed down, so to compensate you had to aim the headlights up.

a few things you can do:
1. lift the front up more or lower the back to level the truck.
2. get a tapered body lift to keep the frame rake but level the body.
3. wedge the projectors internally by making a tapered shim.
4. get a steel stick jb weld, mount the headlight and just glue the projector in where you want it.
5. aim your headlights lower.
6. live with it.

have a nice day.

I was just making sure I didn't miss something since this is my first retrofit.

I think you are correct since I do have rake, which I hate. I've been looking for a used set of coilovers for a while now just to get rid of the rake. Even with a spacer on top, my 881s have really sagged since adding my winch and bumper.

 

[A.Wilson013]

BTW I put the rubber on the inside, AWislon does it on the outside. I don't know who's right. Both probably work fine.

Slander!!!

Kidding.

I do it the same way you do, always have. The only thing I do different is I had some washers made that sit between the alignment ring and the big nut that secures everything. I find that the addition of this washer allows the nut to snug down MUCH better, and with even pressure across the housing.

OP, I REALLY doubt it's your rake causing the issue... Unless, of course, you've got about 6" of lift in the rear, and none in the front =)

I imagine that your issue is that you've not tightened the nut down enough, so it's sitting in there kinda funky.

I currently have a set that I am about to start putting together... Let me get some pictures for you.

 

[A.Wilson013]

So here's the housing. Wow, very lovely.

Here's how I route the wires... Notice that the silicone washer thing is where it is.

Here's the alignment washer... Housing trimmed to be flush with the alignment washer.

Here's the washer I had made...

Here's the nut...

And here's the projector after being snugged down... Notice how the bottom is parallel to bottom of the housing.

 

[T4Rfirefighter]

That's exactly how I have done mine, sans custom washer.

I guess I will try to tighten the retaining nut some more. Are you guys using a wrench or a socket to tighten them down?

 

[A.Wilson013]

I don't have a wrench or a socket the big... I use vice grips.

Ideally I'd use a socket, but those big ones are spendy.

 

[D Farms]

when I had 8.5 wraps in the rear and tundra coils in the front, my headlights were angled up like that. after making my tapered body lift, the truck sits level and the headlights sit flush.

 

[MTD]

when I had 8.5 wraps in the rear and tundra coils in the front, my headlights were angled up like that. after making my tapered body lift, the truck sits level and the headlights sit flush.

You heard it, the only solution is a tapered body lift.

 

[MTD]

Mine is set up like the picture. Still think I need to bend the adapter plate? I've not seen anybody else have to do that on a 4Runner.

Yes, i would bend the adapter plate or better yet make some small plastic shims from a plastic container.

 

[D Farms]

You heard it, the only solution is a tapered body lift.

a few things you can do:
1. lift the front up more or lower the back to level the truck.
2. get a tapered body lift to keep the frame rake but level the body.
3. wedge the projectors internally by making a tapered shim.
4. get a steel stick jb weld, mount the headlight and just glue the projector in where you want it.
5. aim your headlights lower.
6. live with it.

that was a bit hostile.

 

[MTD]

that was a bit hostile.

Was joke

 

[BrianSD_42]

Slander!!!

Ahh man I only said that because i remember seeing a picture in your for sale thread that showed the silicone on the outside.

But now I can't find it lol. Sorry I thought it was your thread. I stand corrected. I really didn't know the correct way until I saw MTDs pic above. I just put the rubber on the inside since that seemed best.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Yes, i would bend the adapter plate or better yet make some small plastic shims from a plastic container.

I don't understand what you mean by bending the adapter plate? You mean the metal washer thing that aligns the projector to the H4 slots thingamajiggers?

If that's what you mean, it won't work. Well, I should say that it PROBABLY won't work. The "tab" on the alignment ring that actually goes into the slot on the projector (circled in red) has a tendency to slide into the the threads of the projector and render itself useless when it's at an angle... I am not sure how you could avoid that. I had that happen a couple times about a year ago. One was actually bad enough that it crossthreaded the nut, and I had to cut off the nut and have TRS send me a new one (which they did for free, without question).

I'm telling you though... Unless he has a MONSTER rake like 3-4 inches, I am almost positive that this is not his issue... I have installed these on 3 4runners, all with a noticeable rake, and none of them had to be aimed so far up as to make them look how his look. Something is not right.

Ahh man I only said that because i remember seeing a picture in your for sale thread that showed the silicone on the outside.

But now I can't find it lol. Sorry I thought it was your thread. I stand corrected. I really didn't know the correct way until I saw MTDs pic above. I just put the rubber on the inside since that seemed best.

All in good fun - no worries.

 

[MTD]

I don't understand what you mean by bending the adapter plate? You mean the metal washer thing that aligns the projector to the H4 slots thingamajiggers?

If that's what you mean, it won't work. Well, I should say that it PROBABLY won't work. The "tab" on the alignment ring that actually goes into the slot on the projector (circled in red) has a tendency to slide into the the threads of the projector and render itself useless when it's at an angle... I am not sure how you could avoid that. I had that happen a couple times about a year ago. One was actually bad enough that it crossthreaded the nut, and I had to cut off the nut and have TRS send me a new one (which they did for free, without question).

I'm telling you though... Unless he has a MONSTER rake like 3-4 inches, I am almost positive that this is not his issue... I have installed these on 3 4runners, all with a noticeable rake, and none of them had to be aimed so far up as to make them look how his look. Something is not right.



All in good fun - no worries.

Its not my first rodeo I there. If you bend it right or shim it correctly it will help. the other thing that it could be is that the headlights themselves have an issue I know he mentioned he has aftermarket ones they might be at the issue. I could be wrong though wouldn't be the first time.

 

[A.Wilson013]

If you bend it right or shim it correctly it will help.

I'd be interested to know what bending it "right", or shimming it "correctly" would look like. Unless you've done it with good results, I am still pretty confident that it won't work for the aforementioned reason.

The aftermarket housing may have something to do with it... I have heard the "vision" brand is just garbage.

 

[T4Rfirefighter]

I'm using TYC housings.

When I get more time I'm going to try tightening down the retaining nuts to see if that helps. Otherwise, I'm going to throw a new set of coilovers on it later this year and hope that helps.

 

[T4Rfirefighter]

I tightened both projector retaining nuts to the point that they started to twist in the housing. Even with that, they still require forcing the bottom of the housing way out to get them aimed correctly.

I'm hoping the coilovers I'll be getting later this year alleviate the rake enough to fix this issue. If not, I may just chalk this one up as being a retrofit newb who screwed something up and buying a set from one of yall.