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a few years ago when I got my car the fiber optics were not working in the process of fixing them I replaced the headlight bulbs.(need the glass nipples)now it has been a few years and I am working on other headlight things (new metal bezels, headlight washers ect.) I have noticed that the bulbs are loose. the retaining rings are on all the way. I also bought a new retaining ring to try. but it didn't help. Seems that they don't fit really good and the retaining ring is unable to grab them good. Maybe just crappy bulbs. What are your thoughts? thanks.
Hi S,
There are 4 different headlight buckets.
They are stamped A,B,C,D.
There'a a specific location for each.
I'm really NOT SURE if having the buckets in the right place has anything to do with how the retainers fit on the headlamps.
???
Could you 'pad-out' the rear of the buckets with something to make the lamps fit more snuggly?
Regards,
Alan
Standing looking at the front of the car I believe the sequence is:
C B D A.
Here's an example what to look for:
Perhaps you'll spot something here that's different than the way your headlamps are mounted.
I'll have to scope that out when it's nicer here. Thanks for the photo Alan, as always.it seems that your retainers are in full grasp of the bulb edges where mine are not. They seem maybe a little off full diameter. I'll post a photo maybe this weekend when I have time. thanks to all.
a few years ago when I got my car the fiber optics were not working in the process of fixing them I replaced the headlight bulbs.(need the glass nipples)now it has been a few years and I am working on other headlight things (new metal bezels, headlight washers ect.) I have noticed that the bulbs are loose. the retaining rings are on all the way. I also bought a new retaining ring to try. but it didn't help. Seems that they don't fit really good and the retaining ring is unable to grab them good. Maybe just crappy bulbs. What are your thoughts? thanks.
Hi steffan,
I have just had a similar problem having to replace all of my bulbs to comply with Australian DMR. The only sealed beams I could buy here were of Chinese origin and did flop around in the bucket (I thought that's typical). I double checked the OD and the locating lugs and even the thickness of the glass as I didn't want to go and get a refund because of the shortage of sealed beams. I noticed the little tabs on the retainers were bent due to the US Sylvania Halogen bulbs being slightly thicker on the glass rim and when fitted with the retainer didn't sit correctly, rather the tabs bent to compensate. I used a pair of flat nosed pliers to square them to the retainer ring surface and then fitted my bulbs ... Perfect!!
Hope it Helps .... Cheers Allan
I have had to find new old stock GE bulbs on Ebay to get the correct nipple type low beam/Hi beam bulbs.
The newer H-4 style are significantly brighter but do not have the fiber optic stalk on the rear of the bulb.
I'm returning my low beams to earlier bulbs so I can enjoy the front low beam fiber optic feature.
Marshal
here are some photo's unfortunately I have to take the lower washers off to remove the bezels but you can see that the bulbs look off diameter and the rings are not able to grab them well, some seem worse than others
mine do not have springs attached to the rings only to the cup. the rings have a oval type cut in them that the spring goes around into the cup. but the rings are on as far as they will go. they meet the cup edge.
everything seems to be in place nothing broken all the adjusters are in place. maybe this weekend I'll take another look at the cups and make sure they are not deformed.I want to change some of the bushings on the light assembles
as well
... you can see that the bulbs look off diameter and the rings are not able to grab them well, some seem worse than others
Originally Posted by OZvette72
Hi steffan,
... double checked the OD ...
... I noticed the little tabs on the retainers were bent due to the US Sylvania Halogen bulbs being slightly thicker on the glass rim and when fitted with the retainer didn't sit correctly, rather the tabs bent to compensate. I used a pair of flat nosed pliers to square them to the retainer ring surface and then fitted my bulbs ...
Mine was exactly the same, like it was a size too small and the very reason I double checked the outside diameter of the bulb. If you notice Alan 71 also has bent tabs on his retainers. Here is an image of a GM factory retainer. Give it a go before you spend endless hours for nothing.
69 headlight bulb question
