Help with Jeep headlight fitting please
Discussion
We've got an XJ-series Jeep, and the other day hit a bird which smashed the driver's side headlamp unit. I ordered a set of replacement projector units and have managed to fit the passenger side fine. The drivers side mounting assembly is properly gubbed though. I've managed to get the projector unit in but I now appear to be missing two springs, which going by the other side are to hold the headlamp in position once the beam has been set. One of the adjustment screws has been damaged as well.
I've had a look at getting another headlight mounting assembly, but none of the one's I've seen online look like the ones in our car. The ones online have the left/right adjustment screw on the wrong side, the chrome headlamp surround is mounted differently, and there doesn't appear to be an up/down adjustment screw. Any ideas what I should be looking for, or so I have no option other than getting my pants pulled down for a new unit from the local Jeep stealership?
Ta in advance.
I've had a look at getting another headlight mounting assembly, but none of the one's I've seen online look like the ones in our car. The ones online have the left/right adjustment screw on the wrong side, the chrome headlamp surround is mounted differently, and there doesn't appear to be an up/down adjustment screw. Any ideas what I should be looking for, or so I have no option other than getting my pants pulled down for a new unit from the local Jeep stealership?
Ta in advance.
Well, if it helps...
I have a YJ Wrangler. When these were imported into the UK in the 90's, Jeep shipped them here in US spec, and had workshop units at the UK docks who stripped the American LHD stuff from the cars, and fitted UK spec RHD parts - i.e. most of the lighting, and the steering assembly and dashboard units.
The headlamps fitted were smaller than the US units, held in with some brackets and springs which weren't much cop. And as the units were smaller, they looked a little rubbish.
So recently I ordered up some US spec size units from ebay, but which have a central dip suitable for UK construction and use.
However, the adjusters, springs and that I already have were not compatible.
So what I did was cobble together my own mountings, with long threaded bolts to hold the units in place, where the sprung adjusters would normally go. Hence, to adjust the aim of the unit, it involved having two nuts on the bolts, one either side of the headlamp mounting hole, and winding them along the bolt to the spot where the aim was about right. It involved a bit of trial and error - removing, winding the nuts in or out a bit, re-fitting and then checking the aim against my garage door - but I got there in the end.
Now the units are secure and the aim is spot-on, but it cannot easily be adjusted. Then again, with bolts holding them in place, the aim does not move or deviate anyway!
So I guess it depends on how happy you are with the spanners and having the time / inclination to fiddle.
In my case, I could have ordered the proper units at a cost of hundreds of pounds - but my ebay units were £25 a pair, so I was happy to fiddle.
HTH
I have a YJ Wrangler. When these were imported into the UK in the 90's, Jeep shipped them here in US spec, and had workshop units at the UK docks who stripped the American LHD stuff from the cars, and fitted UK spec RHD parts - i.e. most of the lighting, and the steering assembly and dashboard units.
The headlamps fitted were smaller than the US units, held in with some brackets and springs which weren't much cop. And as the units were smaller, they looked a little rubbish.
So recently I ordered up some US spec size units from ebay, but which have a central dip suitable for UK construction and use.
However, the adjusters, springs and that I already have were not compatible.
So what I did was cobble together my own mountings, with long threaded bolts to hold the units in place, where the sprung adjusters would normally go. Hence, to adjust the aim of the unit, it involved having two nuts on the bolts, one either side of the headlamp mounting hole, and winding them along the bolt to the spot where the aim was about right. It involved a bit of trial and error - removing, winding the nuts in or out a bit, re-fitting and then checking the aim against my garage door - but I got there in the end.
Now the units are secure and the aim is spot-on, but it cannot easily be adjusted. Then again, with bolts holding them in place, the aim does not move or deviate anyway!
So I guess it depends on how happy you are with the spanners and having the time / inclination to fiddle.
In my case, I could have ordered the proper units at a cost of hundreds of pounds - but my ebay units were £25 a pair, so I was happy to fiddle.
HTH
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