Are you bothered by HID "jiggle" ?
06-19-2010, 03:32 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Are you bothered by HID "jiggle" ?
I have read many posts about HID "jiggle" and several ways to reduce the slop in the C5's OEM headlight assembly. And while I feel that one can never get all the slop out of the headlamp assembly due to it's design, it can be reduced.
While I had both headlamp assemblies out yesterday to upgrade my HID fogs to 55 watt units I decided to reduce one area in the headlamp assembly that has a lot of slop. That would be the pivot point where the motor arm lifts the headlamps (see pic 1).
I replaced the OEM rod with a metric SS M8-1.25 bolt that was a bit longer than the OEM rod. Then I secured it with a Nylock nut. This made the connection a bit tighter and will eliminate the retainer that holds the OEM rod in place from coming off in use.......has happened to me twice
But there was still room for improvement, so I added one 5/16" nylon washer between the lifting arm and the headlamp assembly to further firm up this connection (see pic 2 sorry for the blur).
Over all these mods reduced the slop in the assembly quite a lot.
But I don't think all the slop in the OEM assembly can be eliminated.
The jiggle has always been there, it is just more visible with HIDs, usually due to the sharp cut off line that projectors create.
While I had both headlamp assemblies out yesterday to upgrade my HID fogs to 55 watt units I decided to reduce one area in the headlamp assembly that has a lot of slop. That would be the pivot point where the motor arm lifts the headlamps (see pic 1).
I replaced the OEM rod with a metric SS M8-1.25 bolt that was a bit longer than the OEM rod. Then I secured it with a Nylock nut. This made the connection a bit tighter and will eliminate the retainer that holds the OEM rod in place from coming off in use.......has happened to me twice
But there was still room for improvement, so I added one 5/16" nylon washer between the lifting arm and the headlamp assembly to further firm up this connection (see pic 2 sorry for the blur).Over all these mods reduced the slop in the assembly quite a lot.
But I don't think all the slop in the OEM assembly can be eliminated.
The jiggle has always been there, it is just more visible with HIDs, usually due to the sharp cut off line that projectors create.
06-19-2010, 09:24 PM
#4
All Aboard!!!
I never notice andy jiggle??? maybe i dont drive enough at night. Thanks for the write up im going to look at mine since im pulling the lights out to install new gears.
06-19-2010, 11:30 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
I too noticed the jiggle after installing the HIDs, of course I never bothered driving my vette at night before I got my light cannons 
Post up what your experience is after a few test drives 
Post up what your experience is after a few test drives
06-19-2010, 11:41 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
Great post Jim. Thanks!
I also noticed I could reduce the other jiggle inside the housing (bulb to housing) with tiny pieces of bycycle inner tube. That worked great for me. Now I need to address the jiggle where you just fixed it.
I also noticed I could reduce the other jiggle inside the housing (bulb to housing) with tiny pieces of bycycle inner tube. That worked great for me. Now I need to address the jiggle where you just fixed it.
06-20-2010, 12:16 AM
#8
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The giggle would bother me.
06-20-2010, 09:45 AM
#9
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St. Jude Donor '08
The hinge joint only supports the headlight just to the right of the high beam. This means the low beam side is inherently unstable and will show vibration or "jiggle" especially on lowered or tight-suspension cars. Aside from weelding in a secondary support bracket, there's not a whole lot you can do.
08-28-2010, 01:55 AM
#10
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I had the H4 Euro lights with a bi-xenon hid bulb in them. Since the Euro lights were glass and heavier, they would jiggle all the time.
Nothing I did could resolve that problem.
Now.... If RadioFlyer would make his SLC's again.... that might be a better solution.
Nothing I did could resolve that problem.
Now.... If RadioFlyer would make his SLC's again.... that might be a better solution.
03-04-2011, 12:03 AM
#11
Le Mans Master
I just searched out this old thread because now I really need to address the jiggle. I had a H/C package installed a few months ago. The cam has a 113 LSA. I some cool have lope but. now at night my car looks like it has a severe nervous disorder. Kinda like this ->
03-04-2011, 01:13 AM
#12
Drives me nuts... I uninstalled my ACA style projectors because of it. I did a few tweaks to tighten up the lights, so I put them back in again. If the jiggle still gets on my nerves I'm pulling them out and selling them.
03-04-2011, 01:36 AM
#13
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Great post Jim and thanks for taking the time to post it.
I don't drive at night too much but I might try that mod one of these days.
I don't drive at night too much but I might try that mod one of these days.
03-04-2011, 03:20 AM
#14
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03-04-2011, 09:03 AM
#17
Safety Car
I had to replace those pins also, mainly due to loosing one (the stock friction ring retainer is not a particularly good way to hold that in) after a modded projector (the JW Lower opening ones I'm evaluating) install.
I also elected to go with the longer bolt and the NyLock nut, worked like a charm and its not going anywhere
I gotta tell ya, I'm getting zero jiggle on mine. You may also want to look at the rear pivot points. Not necessarily the bolts they pivot on, but the nylon bumpers that the frame contacts when the lights are fully opened. A little extra clearance there can transmit into a lot of movement at the front of the arc. Just an idea.
Good luck
I also elected to go with the longer bolt and the NyLock nut, worked like a charm and its not going anywhere
I gotta tell ya, I'm getting zero jiggle on mine. You may also want to look at the rear pivot points. Not necessarily the bolts they pivot on, but the nylon bumpers that the frame contacts when the lights are fully opened. A little extra clearance there can transmit into a lot of movement at the front of the arc. Just an idea.
Good luck
03-04-2011, 10:41 AM
#20
With my Light Cannons, I used to have jiggle when I first got them but now I have none.
Either I just don't notice it anymore or it somehow went away.
Either I just don't notice it anymore or it somehow went away.
Last edited by BenC5; 03-04-2011 at 11:09 AM.