Headlight adjusting springs

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxx>]

Springs actually pull DOWN (or back) on headlight buckets. Are like
3rd leg of a stool -- two adjusting screws work against them.

Are surprising inexpensive from vendors ($2 does whole car) -- next
time anyone places an order, add four for future use. Originals are
thin gauge untreated steel. Doesn't take much road salt etc to kill them.

In a pinch you can cut pieces of long tension spring from a hardware
store or Lowes, but final cost will be about same as proper springs
purchased in advance.

Bill Robertson
#5939

>--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "K. Creason" <dmc4687@xxxx> wrote:
> Here is what I think happened...
> it's nothing really compared to y'alls engine swaps and such.
> There a little spring that pulls up on the light assembly-- both of mine
> were hanging loose and disconnected, and what's more the springs
were fine,
> the frame was fine. In fact, the light frame is black right there and it
> wasn't even scratched.
> I wonder if those little springs were forgotten at the factory-- but it
> seems hard to believe that it took 22 years for the headlights to
slip off
> the adjusting screws and fall down.
> Anyway-- springs all hooked up, back in the adjusting screw grooves and
> hunky-dory.
> 
> -Kevin
> #4687
> Houston (lamenting his job that requires him to work this one
weekend and
> miss the DMC OH... oh well, I have friends in high places who need me)
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: content22207 [mailto:brobertson@xxxx]
> Sent: Friday, May 02, 2003 5:09 PM
> To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [DML] Re: loose bright lights
> 
> 
> Your headlights seem to have gotten lost amid engine swaps and fuel
> distributors eh?
> 
> Each sealed beam assembly is held to a bucket by aluminum frame and
> four sheet metal screws. Bucket is then held to header panel by two
> adjusting screws and a tension spring. Standard arrangement for any
> vehicle of that vintage.
> 
> Two possibilities:
> Unlikely:
> Sheet metal screws have come loose, allowing sealed beam to flop
> around in bucket.
> Likely:
> 1) tension springs have rusted to pieces, especially the bent coil
> that holds them to bucket/header, removing tension that holds
> everything in place
> 2) tabs on plastic retainers that hold adjusting screws to header
> panel have gotten old, brittle, and broken. This will actually let the
> bucket fall out.
> 
> Remove aluminum frames, unplug sealed beams, and investigate. If
> tension springs are DOA, can cut and bend new ones from a single long
> spring (but prices from vendors are so cheap you might as well go that
> route, time permitting). If tabs on adjusting screw retainers are
> broken can substitute the "1/4 Inch Universal" size from "Help" brand
> (red packages at parts houses). Cost much less than vendors.
> 
> Don't forget to re-aim your headlights afterwards.
> 
> Bill Robertson
> #5939
> 
> >--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "K. Creason" <dmc4687@xxxx> wrote:
> > I noticed this week that my brights have come loose.
> > It's like they've popped out from the adjustment bracket. I
haven't been
> > working on that end, only in the back, so it's nothing I've done.
> > I am just now starting to get the eyebrows, but nothing serious yet. I
> > should correct that before it worsens, though.
> >
> > Any ideas on what made the loose headlights?
> >
> > -Kevin
> > #4687
> 
> 
> 
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