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Replaced factory headlight housings crossed beams

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Old Oct 19, 2020 | 06:10 PM
  #21  
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The AlphaRex picture is the typical pattern for projectors. They have the sharp cut-off like that. Reflector lights will scatter the light more and won't have the cut-off like that.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2020 | 07:26 PM
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If you think the angle of the bulb is causing it, then get a set of LED bulbs. Many of them can rotate to any degree in the housing. The ones I have right now do. I can reach behind the headlight and twist it 360 degrees.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2020 | 08:22 PM
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Originally Posted by kejobe
The AlphaRex picture is the typical pattern for projectors. They have the sharp cut-off like that. Reflector lights will scatter the light more and won't have the cut-off like that.
Oh yeah I understand the cut off. I mean this part where they don't lineup. These two circles should intersect if I'm not mistaken. Also the headlights are slightly off angle from each other. This may not be from a Dodge's headlights but the concerning part is that they didn't align these before uploading the pictures and it makes me a little apprehensive about buying them for my truck since I can't adjust them side to side. Only up or down.




That company is doing a full refund so I will just order a set from 1A Auto. I've heard from a lot of different places that they're a good source. Too bad it was AFTER I ordered mine. I don't mean that in a snide way towards anyone here. I just mean I ordered those because they had good ratings and then later I started noticing posts about 1A Auto.
 
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Old Oct 20, 2020 | 02:26 PM
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Alright so slight change of plans. I am still sending both sets back for a refund but I decided to give the WD40 trick a shot since I planned on replacing these housings. I originally thought the cracks went all the way through these housings. They do not which means these housings can be recovered. There is a guy who does decent videos comparing various products. He did one comparing all the major brand headlight restore kits. In his test the Sylvania was the better result. The upside is he makes money from Youtube ad revenue and not product reviews so all his videos are self funded and nothing is sent to him free.



These are my housings that I will attempt to restore. One of the reviews on this products page showed promising results. His Grand Cherokee housings very closely resembled mine. I figure $20 bucks if it doesn't work oh well I can still buy replacements.
 

Last edited by Shadow_Death; Oct 20, 2020 at 02:28 PM.
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Old Oct 20, 2020 | 02:51 PM
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The problem with the 'restoration kits' is, if they don't do something about UV protection for the clear plastic, you are right back in the same place in relatively short order. I got new factory housings for my truck from 1a auto, the fit just like stock, were adjustable just like stock, and actually came with bulbs, with they said they did not..... They still looked new 8 years later when I sold the truck. Did the same thing on the replacement truck, and 3 and change years later, they still look new.....
 
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Old Oct 20, 2020 | 04:51 PM
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Originally Posted by HeyYou
The problem with the 'restoration kits' is, if they don't do something about UV protection for the clear plastic, you are right back in the same place in relatively short order. I got new factory housings for my truck from 1a auto, the fit just like stock, were adjustable just like stock, and actually came with bulbs, with they said they did not..... They still looked new 8 years later when I sold the truck. Did the same thing on the replacement truck, and 3 and change years later, they still look new.....
You could spray a few coats of UV resistant clearcoat after you clean the headlights. I've done that on my vehicles and it seems to really help.
 
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Old Oct 20, 2020 | 10:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Alex Medeiros
You could spray a few coats of UV resistant clearcoat after you clean the headlights. I've done that on my vehicles and it seems to really help.
Yeah, I've done this. It lasts a few years with the clear coat. When I sprayed on the clearcoat, it had an orange peel effect, so I slightly wet sanded the clear coat with 1500 grit sandpaper, then polished it with a scratch remover.

Pics of an old Hyundai I did, before and after.




 
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Old Oct 23, 2020 | 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by HeyYou
The problem with the 'restoration kits' is, if they don't do something about UV protection for the clear plastic, you are right back in the same place in relatively short order. I got new factory housings for my truck from 1a auto, the fit just like stock, were adjustable just like stock, and actually came with bulbs, with they said they did not..... They still looked new 8 years later when I sold the truck. Did the same thing on the replacement truck, and 3 and change years later, they still look new.....
I'm probably just going to go with ones from 1A Auto. One of the issues with restoring headlights that I remember is they always have a milky haze that never seems to go away. :/

Both sets got sent back yesterday.

I give them this much. They sent me 2 sets, the first ones I ordered, then another set just in case. Normally companies want the originals back before they ship a replacement set.
 
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Old Oct 23, 2020 | 08:14 PM
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I got the ones from 1A Auto for the 2nd Gen I had. No issues with them while I had the truck.
 
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