Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

Headlight Adjustment

15K views 19 replies 12 participants last post by  DryCreek 
#1 ·
Finally got all the hardware for our YJ's headlights, but the design seems flawed.

If you need your headlights pointed to OEM settings, the two adjustment screws (which are the only damn things holding the whole assembly on) seem to work fine.

However major adjustments, like compensating for our 6" lift, is just not working. To get the light pointing that far down the screw needs to be backed out a ton and then you just get a floppy headlight.

Calling all monster truck YJ owners, how did you get your damn headlights adjusted??
 
#2 ·
Well, I have 8.5" of lift and riding on 35's and mine are adjusted just fine. I didn't set them to stock specs. I adjusted them for how I wanted to see when going down the road. Take it for a ride and see if the lights are good, and take a Phillips screwdriver with you. If they are too low crank them up some. Too high, back the screw out a little.

Mine might be a little blinding for oncoming traffic, but that's their problem, not mine...lol. Besides, my headlights are far from stock brightness anyway.
 
#3 ·
Drive over to Walmart or the supermarket at night. Take a measuring tape, masking tape and a philips screwdriver. Drive around back to a not too well lit area. Park about 25' away from a wall. Make sure the area is level and you are perpendicular to the wall.
Measure from the center of your headlight to the ground. Walk up to where your headlights are shining on the wall and put a piece of masking tape at the measured headlamp height.
Use the screwdriver to aim the beam centered low on the tape. Do this for both sides.
Sight down the passenger side of the Jeep. You should be able to see most of where the headlamp shines. Sight down the drivers side. You should be able to see about half of where the beam shines.Adjust as necessary.
Drive around a dark country road to be sure that you are happy with the way the headlamps shine. If oncoming drivers flash at you adjust them down a half of a turn.
You just might print this and bring it with you when you aim your lights in case you are contacted by store security. Or the local cops.
Good Luck, L.M.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Airslot
#7 ·
Use the screwdriver to aim the beam centered low on the tape.
I got the procedure down on how to adjust a headlight . . . but when I adjust the light down to where it needs to be the top adjustment screw is nearly backed all the way out from the plastic clip. This results in a light thats flopping around and not snug against the grill. Going down the trail they rattle like crazy and become misaligned. I feel like I'm missing something . . .
 
#4 ·
Lol Lucky! I just got new lights and don't know where to test em without gettin in trouble! Funnier still is when you're working on your horn or car alarm! The neighbors LOVE me!
 
#8 ·
There is also a spring that holds the metal housing for each light in place, so make sure that's connected.

So up top and to one side will be the adjustment screws and then on the side opposite the screws, the side closer to the center of the grill you should see a spring somewhere, that connects to the sort of metal shell that the light is connected to.

Hope that makes sense but I'm pretty sure that's your problem, same thing happened to me last summer.
 
#19 ·
Big Earl bought a JK (I think) and is on the JK board.

Not sure about 0III0forlife, but apparently, it wasn't for life.....
 
  • Like
Reactions: steves92
#20 ·
So, talkin' about headlights......

OK, had one headlight go out on me the other morning while on the way to work. I made sure to pick up a pair of new bulbs this last weekend while out on the town. I bought the standard Sylvania H6054 halogens for $8.88 each at Walmart. While that's not too bad, it did get me to thinking - and we all know what happens when a Jeep owner gets to thinking.....

Anyway, even with my headlights perfectly adjusted, and new bulbs, it still isn't as "illuminating" as our JK, Chrysler 300, Ram 2500 or even the motor home for that matter. I will admit that the brand new headlights are a bit brighter than the however-old ones that were on the rig - and tons brighter than the burned out bulb - but I guess that goes without sayin'.

Anyway, for about $55 I can upgrade to LED direct bolt-in replacements.

LINKY

So, anyone have any recent experience with this type of upgrade? The reviews are generally positive, and most rave about how much brighter the LED lamps sets are. It also appears to come with the anti-flicker harness already installed. Since the YJ's are still hardwired in the old fashioned way (vice powered up through the TIPM) I probably won't need that. But, I do know that I may have one of the rectifier diodes shot in my alternator (reading about 27 VAC battery positive to frame). Any stray AC should be blocked by the harness.

I'm open to suggestions. I know that probably spending more might get better lights, but I don't want to go much more than what I've found above.

Thanks!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top