Originally Posted by rw6007

I have a C5 Z06 After reading the problems with the golden rods I wouldn't dare try to turn the one that is still intact.

I've seen that some members have bought either new or used golden rods and welcome any advice that can be furnished regarding the source of these "rare" items. I don't want to spend time going to junkyards or rummaging through dealership junk bins...not that I won't eventually resort to doing so. I would prefer to order one or two from some source and escape the other alternatives.

Many thanks for any advice you can provide.

RW

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

There are a lot of people who are in this boat.

You attempt to adjust your headlights and the first adjustment you attempt to make is the vertical adjustment. You get the right sized Torx bit, stick it into the adjusting rod and begin to turn. At first it's kinda stubborn, but then it gives and easily begins to turn. Then you realize what really happened: You just busted your golden rod.

Here's the bad news. You are probably going to have to buy another headlight. That rod is not a part that is sold separately by any parts dealer anywhere. Not the dealer, not any of our forum vendors, nobody. Thus, you're looking at $700 for a new headlight, and anywhere from $250 and up for a used one. There are a couple of forum vendors who do have the entire headlight assembly for a reasonable price.

Now here's the exception. There's a guy out of Florida named Art who did at one time sell these rods by themselves for $18. That's right, eighteen smackaroonies. I was doing endless searches through old threads and stumbled upon a post that gave a link directly to the item. I immediately got on the horn and gave him a call. Real nice guy who loves to talk! He explained to me that he use to frequent all of the Chevy dealers in his area and collected all of the broken Corvette headlights that they had tossed in the garbage. He would then disassemble them and sell the parts because you couldn't buy individual parts for the headlights. For the guys lucky enough to find him, it was a blessing. However, he no longer can do this.

Apparently, GM got upset and made him quit selling these rods as separate units. Because of this, he no longer can get them. ...

With that said, you may still be in luck if you can find a damaged headlight. I would do like Art did and check with your local Corvette dealer (mainly their garbage cans). You may just luck up and retrieve a headlight with the rod intact. If you do, this is the info you'll want to know.

Here's a shot of the assembly:



It is held on to the headlight assembly by 2 screws, which are not real easy to get to. I first had to remove the light housing (3 10mm bolts), and then I had to remove the bolts that held the adjusting bracket onto the assembly.



The other thing that was a major PITA was getting my old assembly out of that bracket. I must have fooled with it for hours before I just pulled it out of the assembly. I don't know if my wiggling it for hours caused the thing to come free or if I was just too scared to pull on it in the first place (probably the latter). Anyway, it finally came out and the new one went in rather easily.



If you are lucky enough to get a hold of just the adjusting rod, then installing it should make sense because this is not something a not so mechanically inclined person would try. Because I have had my headlights in and out of my ride so many times, I'm rather comfortable with working on them. If not for that, I probably would have just bought another headlight as I was planning to do anyway.

One thing that I did figure out that may benefit a lot of folks here is how the adjusting rod assembly is put together. Had I known this, I might have just replaced the rod only. That's right, you can replace just the golden rod! Look at these pictures below. They show how the assembly comes apart.

Removing the white headed screw will allow you to pry the assembly open.





This picture shows exactly where you should shoot some PB Blaster in order to free the assembly so that you don't bust it when attempting to make any adjustments.





As you can see by this picture, the shaft is removable! If you can get a shaft, then you can replace your broken one.



So get your dumpster diving cloths on, it's time to go fishing. Don't bother with the dealerships in Louisville, I got them all covered. As a matter of fact, you just might open a dumpster lid and see me jump out looking like this guy:



I now have a fully adjustable "golden rod" again. That was really rubbing my nerves the wrong way. Another fix that didn't include the Corvette tax.

Well, it's time for me to try the "headlights won't go down fix" and see if it works. Joe3541 offered this up and I may as well tackle now while the lights are out of the car. Here are his instructions for those interested, and my take on the same repair.

That's all folks!

Originally Posted by ArtGle

Going through this in 2016.
What I've found here is that the short threaded rod is locked in the 'sleeve' gear.
I've got it 'soaking' at the moment.
If anyone has one of these I'm "LOOKING".

Thanks in advance.
Art

Originally Posted by diyguy

If anyone needs one of these, I've got one left. Can't recall if left or right or it may not matter.

Pay the postage and it's yours.

PM if interested.