Does anyone have aiming instructions for stock headlights? Every time I wash my truck or clean my headlights I get flashed for about a week. I'd like to see if they are pointed wrong, 'cause they can't be too bright.

 

I used to do it this way.
At Night

Make a horizontal mark on a wall 30" off the ground

Pull the truck up and park it so the headlights are 25 ft (Exactly) perpendicular from the wall.

Measure the center distance between the headlights.

Take a measuring tape from the drivers side and try to center of the light on the wall with the center of the bulb making sure it is exactly perpendicular with the truck.
Then measure to the passenger side light on the wall make a mark and adjust the light accordingly to it.

 

Find a location with a building that is perpendicular to a fairly level parking lot.
Tools required are a phillups #2 screw driver.
Park level about 50' to 75' perpendicular to building and with headlights facing the building.
With a coat or jacket cover one of the headlights, check where adjacent light is focusing on building, then remove and then cover the other headlight and check where the other headlight is focusing.

Standing at the rear of vehicle and your eyes focused at headlight level at rear of vehicle, then observe where each headlight is set (focusing), using the cover on headlights as mentioned . You can use tape as marker on building when setting headlights.

Then using the headlight adjustment screws and phillups screw driver, adjust vehicle headlight (one by one) a bit lower then the level marked that was observed earlier that was facing perpendicular to building.

Take for test drive and observe if headlights are focused correctly on a level road. If not, back to the parking lot and building and try again.

 

I just get out on a deserted straight road at night and adjust to my liking. Works pretty well for me.

 

Yeah, I use my driveway. :) Just walk up to the headlight and put your finger on your leg/body where the top of the light is shining walk out and see that it's shining lower. See also that it's pointed pretty straight too.

The "wall" ideas assume everything is pretty level etc, kinda hard to find that around here but I like to use a wall as a final check and adjustment. Like... adjust one headlight to match the other one (I like a little better) just using the wall, level or not.

THANK YOU, DerHerr! :)
For thinking it might be -your- headlight adjustment and looking into that. :)

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/spacer1.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/spacer2.jpg

Right after adding those I lowered my headlights a little.

Alvin in AZ
ps- to head off a hissy fit ;) those spacers simply added-back 30 some years of use back into the springs'-loaded-length the ride height is now nearer the "top edge" of Ford spec.