How to replace '87 brake lights?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 7
From: Morgan Hill and Marina California
How to replace '87 brake lights?
The '87 FSM shows removing the brake lights by
removing three screws around the outside diameter.
But mine don't have any screws visible. How do I get
in there?
Chuck
removing three screws around the outside diameter.
But mine don't have any screws visible. How do I get
in there?
Chuck
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,795
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From: So. Cal.
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Depends how skinny your arms are. Try taking off lic. plate and try reaching thru that way. Good Luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 110
From: Brandon Fl
Take off your license plate and using a 10mm (IIRC) socket you can unbolt the housings from the bumper then they fall forward and you can get to the bulbs from there.
Use a small 1/4" drive rachet and once you get them to turn a little you can take the socket off the rachet and just use the socket in your fingers.
Be sure not to over tighten them when you put them back on they are just plastic.
Use a small 1/4" drive rachet and once you get them to turn a little you can take the socket off the rachet and just use the socket in your fingers.
Be sure not to over tighten them when you put them back on they are just plastic.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
It also helps to remove the backup lights. That gives you a little more room to get your arms in there. The nuts are 10mm; try a 10mm 1/4" drive socket and thumbwheel ratchet.
GM used a dielectric grease when the original bulbs were installed. Over the years, this grease will have gotten hard so the chances are good that the old bulb may break when you remove it. The base can be removed with needle-nose pliers if it does break. Scrape off all the old grease and scrape the contacts so they are clean. Use new dielectric grease before installing the new bulb.
It might be worth doing all 4 bulbs. Get some Sylvania 1157LL (Long Life) bulbs. A 1 ounce tube of dielectric grease is all you should need, about $2.50. When I did all the bulbs on my 87, I mixed up some Dawn dishwashing soap and hot water and cleaned out the inside of the lamp housings.
You will also need beer, bandaids, clean cloths for wiping the blood off your arms, and earplugs for the kids so they won't hear the swearing. Tape a target on the opposite wall of the garage so you have something to aim at when you get to where you want to toss tools.....
GM used a dielectric grease when the original bulbs were installed. Over the years, this grease will have gotten hard so the chances are good that the old bulb may break when you remove it. The base can be removed with needle-nose pliers if it does break. Scrape off all the old grease and scrape the contacts so they are clean. Use new dielectric grease before installing the new bulb.
It might be worth doing all 4 bulbs. Get some Sylvania 1157LL (Long Life) bulbs. A 1 ounce tube of dielectric grease is all you should need, about $2.50. When I did all the bulbs on my 87, I mixed up some Dawn dishwashing soap and hot water and cleaned out the inside of the lamp housings.
You will also need beer, bandaids, clean cloths for wiping the blood off your arms, and earplugs for the kids so they won't hear the swearing. Tape a target on the opposite wall of the garage so you have something to aim at when you get to where you want to toss tools.....
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 7
From: Morgan Hill and Marina California
Thanks, all. I vaguely remembered it was something
like that.
I bet a 10mm ratcheting box wrench would be perfect.
Or is the nut down in a hole?
One picture is sure worth 10,000 words.
Chuck
like that.
I bet a 10mm ratcheting box wrench would be perfect.
Or is the nut down in a hole?
One picture is sure worth 10,000 words.
Chuck
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From: Merritt Ils Fl
You will also need beer, bandaids, clean cloths for wiping the blood off your arms, and earplugs for the kids so they won't hear the swearing. Tape a target on the opposite wall of the garage so you have something to aim at when you get to where you want to toss tools.....
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