headlight adjustment. Broken long rod! HELP!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 1
From: Belle Plaine MN
headlight adjustment. Broken long rod! HELP!
So I've been following the threads on here about how to adjust the headlights since the way mine are currently aimed is an accident waiting to happen. Well turns out the long rod under the driver side headlight was snapped by the previous owner. I was pissed when I discovered this since the horizontal adjustment is fine on this side; I just don't enjoy staring at the asphalt 3' in front of my bumper. Lol. So now what? Any suggestions on how I can fix this without having to completely tear everything apart?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
You can take it apart and turn it with a visegrip, The parts are getting hard to find and when you do they will cost you dearly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 1
From: Sartell Minnesota
Yeah i mentioned in a thread a while back that i wish somebody could take a good one and make a machined one for us that have a broken one 
I would guess if you scanned in one to a machine and made a cast for them it wouldn't be too bad. It's rediculous how expensive they are. Mine has a broken one as well by the way
I would guess if you scanned in one to a machine and made a cast for them it wouldn't be too bad. It's rediculous how expensive they are. Mine has a broken one as well by the way
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,548
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From: Republic of Texas
Short term solution:
a) Generously apply WD-40, Liquid wrench or PB Blaster to the gear mechanism.
b) use a dremel cutoff wheel to cut the golden rod where it broke unto a flat surface. Then use the another cutoff wheel (preferably a thin one) to cut a notch into the rod so you can use a thin flat head screwdriver to adjust the light.
a) Generously apply WD-40, Liquid wrench or PB Blaster to the gear mechanism.
b) use a dremel cutoff wheel to cut the golden rod where it broke unto a flat surface. Then use the another cutoff wheel (preferably a thin one) to cut a notch into the rod so you can use a thin flat head screwdriver to adjust the light.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 1
From: Sartell Minnesota
^^^ Good idea actually 
man your brain is always coming up with good ideas huh?
O/P also maybe check and see if the bulbs are snapped in correctly. I've seen it where they looked way off but it was because the bulb wasn't in all the way or was at a slight angle. Just something to check as well.
man your brain is always coming up with good ideas huh?O/P also maybe check and see if the bulbs are snapped in correctly. I've seen it where they looked way off but it was because the bulb wasn't in all the way or was at a slight angle. Just something to check as well.
Last edited by ColeTrain'sC5; Mar 29, 2011 at 12:25 AM.
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Short term solution:
a) Generously apply WD-40, Liquid wrench or PB Blaster to the gear mechanism.
b) use a dremel cutoff wheel to cut the golden rod where it broke unto a flat surface. Then use the another cutoff wheel (preferably a thin one) to cut a notch into the rod so you can use a thin flat head screwdriver to adjust the light.
a) Generously apply WD-40, Liquid wrench or PB Blaster to the gear mechanism.
b) use a dremel cutoff wheel to cut the golden rod where it broke unto a flat surface. Then use the another cutoff wheel (preferably a thin one) to cut a notch into the rod so you can use a thin flat head screwdriver to adjust the light.
I just adjusted my lights and took the cautionary advise from this board and lubed them with PB Blaster and let them sit over night.
To the OP, the only other option is a new light housing kit. GM does not carry just the Golden Rod.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 419
Likes: 3
From: Lexington VA
St. Jude Donor '11
^^^ Good idea actually man your brain is always coming up with good ideas huh?
O/P also maybe check and see if the bulbs are snapped in correctly. I've seen it where they looked way off but it was because the bulb wasn't in all the way or was at a slight angle. Just something to check as well.
man your brain is always coming up with good ideas huh?O/P also maybe check and see if the bulbs are snapped in correctly. I've seen it where they looked way off but it was because the bulb wasn't in all the way or was at a slight angle. Just something to check as well.
I recently went to silver-star ultras and thought I had the bulbs in properly....until it got dark! They are a b***h to get in right because there is no room to work and you can't even see what you're doing. I got them in okay on the second try.
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From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
I found it easier to when I adjust the lights to raise the hood after removing the shroud as I didn't do that the first time. Opening the hood provides more room and a little better angle.
