headlight gears
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: houston tx
headlight gears
my c5 makes a noise when i lower the headlights. now the lights work and move up and down with ease the only problem is that when they come down it makes a grinding noise. now my question is can i just replace the plastic gears to brass gears without chaning the motors if the light move up and down ok?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Yes you can. new brass gears will fix the problem
Take a look at the sticky by Leaftye at the top of C5 Tech. Run down to the section on headlight gears and you'll find all the info you need.
Take a look at the sticky by Leaftye at the top of C5 Tech. Run down to the section on headlight gears and you'll find all the info you need.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 25
From: If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door. South West Florida / Livin' The Dream
St. Jude Donor '12
As DeeGee said yes you can. I did mine about a year ago and they have worked fine since. Do both even if only one is grinding. Here a write up on the process.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ar+replacement
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ar+replacement
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 231
Likes: 17
From: Henrico VA
Best Gear and Instructions
Best Gear from:
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm
I recently performed this repair on my late model 2000. When I attempted to remove the motor w/o taking the assembly out the last of the (3) bolts holding the motor in hit the hood hinge preventing its removal. Also, when you remove the Motor/Actuator and separate it from the linkage the headlight unit will drop and lining it back up with the linkage will be difficult. I followed the directions in the GM Service manual and it was not that difficult. It took about 30 minutes each for removal and reinstall the assm. And about 10-20 minutes each for the removal and reinstall of the Motor/Actuator (not counting epoxy set up time).
I suggest the following:
Put the front of the car up on ramps (rhino ramps work w/ a couple of 2 x 4’s placed at the leading edge).
Remove the HDLP Maxi Circuit breaker #54 located under the passenger side foot board.
Disconnect the headlamp wiring harness for the appropriate headlamp.
Raise the headlamp manually.
Remove the headlamp bezel and headlamp cover. (Lower the headlamp assm. slightly to remove the two rear screws from the cover)
This is the ramps come in. Remove the front bumper close out panel on the effected side. This panel is directly under the headlamp. There are five 5/32 screws – easy to do. Don’t worry about the brake duct you can work around it.
Have a helper support the headlamp assm. Remove the two (2) bolts mounting the headlamp bracket to the frame. Then remove the three (3) nuts mounting the headlamp bracket the stud plate. Removing the three mounting nuts was easiest from underneath the car, and the two frame bolts can be done for up top.
Carefully lift the assm out of the vehicle; they have to clear the (3) studs extending from the headlamp stud plate. These studs also maintain headlamp alignment so realignment is not necessary after you reinstall the headlamp unit.
**Motor/Actuator – Take note of the linkage to motor relationship for reassembly.
Remove the nut retaining the headlamp assm pivot arm the headlamp motor.
Remove the three (3) bolts mounting the motor to the assm.
Do your motor repair and reverse the process.
Best of Luck! -- Ed
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/headlightfix/index.htm
I recently performed this repair on my late model 2000. When I attempted to remove the motor w/o taking the assembly out the last of the (3) bolts holding the motor in hit the hood hinge preventing its removal. Also, when you remove the Motor/Actuator and separate it from the linkage the headlight unit will drop and lining it back up with the linkage will be difficult. I followed the directions in the GM Service manual and it was not that difficult. It took about 30 minutes each for removal and reinstall the assm. And about 10-20 minutes each for the removal and reinstall of the Motor/Actuator (not counting epoxy set up time).
I suggest the following:
Put the front of the car up on ramps (rhino ramps work w/ a couple of 2 x 4’s placed at the leading edge).
Remove the HDLP Maxi Circuit breaker #54 located under the passenger side foot board.
Disconnect the headlamp wiring harness for the appropriate headlamp.
Raise the headlamp manually.
Remove the headlamp bezel and headlamp cover. (Lower the headlamp assm. slightly to remove the two rear screws from the cover)
This is the ramps come in. Remove the front bumper close out panel on the effected side. This panel is directly under the headlamp. There are five 5/32 screws – easy to do. Don’t worry about the brake duct you can work around it.
Have a helper support the headlamp assm. Remove the two (2) bolts mounting the headlamp bracket to the frame. Then remove the three (3) nuts mounting the headlamp bracket the stud plate. Removing the three mounting nuts was easiest from underneath the car, and the two frame bolts can be done for up top.
Carefully lift the assm out of the vehicle; they have to clear the (3) studs extending from the headlamp stud plate. These studs also maintain headlamp alignment so realignment is not necessary after you reinstall the headlamp unit.
**Motor/Actuator – Take note of the linkage to motor relationship for reassembly.
Remove the nut retaining the headlamp assm pivot arm the headlamp motor.
Remove the three (3) bolts mounting the motor to the assm.
Do your motor repair and reverse the process.
Best of Luck! -- Ed
