plastic or bronze
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 765
Likes: 49
From: West Palm Beach,Florida
plastic or bronze
Hi ,in repairing c4 headlight motors,Would using bronze gears( i already purchased them) for the repair have ANY disadvantage over the plastic replacement gear?
Popular Reply
Jun 9, 2023, 12:28 PM
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 287
From: Minnesota
What is one factual benefit from the brass gear? assuming the plastic gear in the car is still good (which usually they are, its the 3 pellets that tend to go bad...by design). I can name a few cons, can't think of a single pro
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 287
From: Minnesota
What is one factual benefit from the brass gear? assuming the plastic gear in the car is still good (which usually they are, its the 3 pellets that tend to go bad...by design). I can name a few cons, can't think of a single pro
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 287
From: Minnesota
I actually need to perform this repair in my 89' as well (it will be a winter project). I have performed this PITA job before, not looking forward to it. It's odd I think that both your gears are cracked and not the pellets...is it possible that maybe a PO performed the repair and damaged the gears ripping the motors apart (secret: the left and right motor dissamble differently in regards to removing the cover/gear...many people just "rip" it out). Here's another example of DIY...Some people can replace an opti 1 time, others replace it 3 times in 1 year
End of the day the brass gear will do it's job and you'll have properly moving headlamps.
I can't deny that the brass gear will probably outlast the car (possibly a pro, but imo irrelevant) but the factory plastic gears are :
- 30+ years old, they have performed well and in most cases are still fine
- Lighter than brass...(impacted less by centrifical force and/or momentum)
- The motors whip around pretty quick...I think a heavier brass gear would eventually wear the pellets down faster not to mention the actual motor
- There is a huge difference in price...however one could justify the price as a 1-time purchase and piece-of-mind
- I assume Engineers were smart 30 years ago so I also assume the plastic was by design as to not wear/destory the more expensive components of the system (worm gears, motor ect...)
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,674
Likes: 751
From: NEwhere Ohio
Each brass gear felt like it weight 1 lb
the headlight motor/lense assemblies are already heavy AF weight on the front end
the plastic wagner headlamp reflectors are lighter, but cant see squat for the speeds these cars are capable of
i couldnt stand the idea of adding more front end weight, so i did plastic gears
the headlight motor/lense assemblies are already heavy AF weight on the front end
the plastic wagner headlamp reflectors are lighter, but cant see squat for the speeds these cars are capable of
i couldnt stand the idea of adding more front end weight, so i did plastic gears
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,060
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
Plastic is fine, if it's a 96 the car is 27 years old and the plastic gears lasted this long. And like the above post I seem to recall bronze gears are heavier thus putting more stress on the motor to open/close...whether the latter is true or not, don't know, but makes some sense.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,441
Likes: 421
From: Ventura County, CA
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
Plastic…I’ve replaced the gears in (4) different C4s and I think 2 were the small bushings and 2 were the gear teeth themselves being chewed up. I’m not sure what the motor would do if gears were jammed up for any reason midway thru the open/close event.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 97
Likes: 41
burn out probably
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 313
Likes: 8
From: Charleston Illinois
If you only need the bushings, save yourself some money and just order a stick of 5/16 delrin rod from McMaster Carr. It's way cheaper than any of the bushings from any of the vendors and you will have enough left over to do 20 sets of headlights.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
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From: Park City Utah