LED headlight adjustment, maxed out?
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Interior of Alaska
LED headlight adjustment, maxed out?
According to the dealer, my headlights are adjusted as low as they will go. I have the readlift 2.5" and 35"s on an F350. I took it to the dealer a month ago to have them adjusted as the last adjustment left them cockeyed and the adjuster screws were very tight and i didn't want to break them. The dealer checks it out and informs me that the adjuster on one side is broken and the other side is frozen, so they replace both headlamps. Being's that I am in Alaska its only recently been getting dark enough at nite to use them and my lights are shining in the trees and oncoming traffic is constantly flashing me. Has anyone ever had a dealer tell them the lights are adjusted as low as they will go? I find it hard to believe the headlight adjustment has bottomed out with a 2.5" leveling kit.
thx
thx
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 390
From: SEVA
Easy to believe. I installed 1" shorter lift blocks in the rear (reverse level) and needed to adjust my LED headslights down ... and all the way down was barely enough. So 2-1/2" up at the front? Yeah, you're lights will be high.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 390
From: SEVA
I can't tell if you're asking the OP or me. Anyways, mine are OEM LED headlights. LED bulbs installed in the halogen headlight housings don't work well since the reflectors aren't made for the very different way LED bulbs emit light versus halogen bulbs.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 566
Likes: 3
From: Florence SC
I was talking to either one of you, I suppose. If using aftermarket LEDs, you can adjust the depth of the LED in the housing and that will shift the pattern as well. Just an option.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,957
Likes: 1,362
From: NY/Canada border
But as far as this thread, I wonder if there would ever be enough factory adjustment to compensate for a lift and tires that would put an F250's front bumper height at the lower to mid windshield height of many cars?
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
According to the dealer, my headlights are adjusted as low as they will go. I have the readlift 2.5" and 35"s on an F350. I took it to the dealer a month ago to have them adjusted as the last adjustment left them cockeyed and the adjuster screws were very tight and i didn't want to break them. The dealer checks it out and informs me that the adjuster on one side is broken and the other side is frozen, so they replace both headlamps. Being's that I am in Alaska its only recently been getting dark enough at nite to use them and my lights are shining in the trees and oncoming traffic is constantly flashing me. Has anyone ever had a dealer tell them the lights are adjusted as low as they will go? I find it hard to believe the headlight adjustment has bottomed out with a 2.5" leveling kit.
thx
thx
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / Worst Features Of The 2025+ Ford Expedition
Brett Foote
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition
Joe Kucinski
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Many of us here would disagree with that statement as we have very good results.
But as far as this thread, I wonder if there would ever be enough factory adjustment to compensate for a lift and tires that would put an F250's front bumper height at the lower to mid windshield height of many cars?
But as far as this thread, I wonder if there would ever be enough factory adjustment to compensate for a lift and tires that would put an F250's front bumper height at the lower to mid windshield height of many cars?
Really, if the answer to LED was to just slap an led bulb in there, OEMs could save a bunch of money and do that themselves.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,957
Likes: 1,362
From: NY/Canada border
It doesn’t matter if you disagree or not. The fact is that halogen housing are designed with a specific bulb, and the filament of that bulb being in a specific place in the housing. If you replace the bulb with a LED or HID, the light does not reflect in the housing in the same way, often times leading to glare for other drivers.
Really, if the answer to LED was to just slap an led bulb in there, OEMs could save a bunch of money and do that themselves.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
No matter what you do or how you do it your aftermarket LED bulbs are going to scatter light in directions not intended, and just because you are not getting "high beamed" too often does not mean you are not blinding people. There are moments when its too late to high beam the other driver, but often aftermarket LED users have a very sharp beam heading almost 90 degrees out of the housing, meaning you only get blinded at the very last second of passing that car.
There is a reason these aftermarket LED lights are not DOT approved. Why? Because they simply will not pass any of the requirements. Stop blinding your fellow drivers.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,064
Likes: 39
From: Laramie, WY
Yes, just because people are not flashing doesn't mean your lights aren't annoying. I'll flash vehicles with annoying light patterns, but my wife won't bother when she is driving. That's real world data...not everyone is going to flash an oncoming vehicle with annoying glare coming from their headlights. I've yet to see a modified set of halogen housing give off a non glaring pattern.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
Yes, just because people are not flashing doesn't mean your lights aren't annoying. I'll flash vehicles with annoying light patterns, but my wife won't bother when she is driving. That's real world data...not everyone is going to flash an oncoming vehicle with annoying glare coming from their headlights. I've yet to see a modified set of halogen housing give off a non glaring pattern.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Interior of Alaska
They are the factory LED headlights. my thoughts on the 'lack' of adjustment are how can 2.5" height increase on the front max out the downward adjustment on the lights. Old school headlight adjustments have plenty of room on both sides(up/down) but the LED's can't compensate for 2.5" without bottoming out? I was just trying to find out if anyone had similar experience and if they had a fix. In the end, i'll probably add to the rear height, i was just hoping to fix it sooner.
thx,
thx,
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 390
From: SEVA