Headlight Adjuster Screw
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Frisco Texas
Headlight Adjuster Screw
Does anyone know how I can find this adjuster screw for a C5 headlight. Pictures attached. So far only way I can find one is to buy the whole headlight assembly ($1200). Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 239
From: Missi'ppi... no mo' MO for me!!
Damn. I've spent the last hour looking for my receipt, and I can't find it. I bought a set of those from a vendor on this forum. I think I bought it over a year ago, and found them from a posting he put up in the For Sale forum. Sorry, that's the best I can help.
I tried to look for his post, but couldn't find it with a ForSale-forum search for "headlight, adjustment, screw". My only suggestion is ugly... search the thread titles to find it.
Edited to ad: Is this it?: http://www.vettenuts.net/index.php?l...t_detail&p=982
I tried to look for his post, but couldn't find it with a ForSale-forum search for "headlight, adjustment, screw". My only suggestion is ugly... search the thread titles to find it.
Edited to ad: Is this it?: http://www.vettenuts.net/index.php?l...t_detail&p=982
Last edited by dork; Jun 6, 2015 at 06:30 AM. Reason: found it?
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
adjuster screw for headlight c5
my name is Jose and I would like to know if you ever found the adjuster screw for your c5 . . I having the same problem . while changing the headlight bulb on the passenger side I saw that the headlight was lose because the plastic head on the adjuster screw was broken. I would dearly appreciate any information you can forward to me regarding this issue. thank you so much
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
my name is Jose and I would like to know if you ever found the adjuster screw for your c5 . . I having the same problem . while changing the headlight bulb on the passenger side I saw that the headlight was lose because the plastic head on the adjuster screw was broken. I would dearly appreciate any information you can forward to me regarding this issue. thank you so much
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
The golden rod can be adjusted I wouldlube it up first because it probably has never been adjusted. I believe thats your up and down and the other is side to side
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Frisco Texas
A forum member had one and private messaged me. Sorry no general solution.
my name is Jose and I would like to know if you ever found the adjuster screw for your c5 . . I having the same problem . while changing the headlight bulb on the passenger side I saw that the headlight was lose because the plastic head on the adjuster screw was broken. I would dearly appreciate any information you can forward to me regarding this issue. thank you so much
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 147
If it's stripped there's the brute force method.
Using a 1/2" socket and a vice you can press the headlight up down bolt either way.
You may have to crank it a bit hard to crack it to get it to move but after it cracks it will move either way without being loose.
Understand that you are breaking the stripped threads on each other so they move under force.
You'll have to take it out to re press it if it's not right.
1/4-3/8" out the back is a good start.
You can get your beam pretty close this way.
I stripped mine and did this before I bought some used headlight assemblies for adjusters I soaked and un siezed.
Last edited by StrangelovesM6Vert; Jul 24, 2015 at 06:47 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 832
Likes: 14
From: Lake Charles Louisiana
There are a few things I "hit" on the car anytime I even walk by it with a can of lube in my hand. i.e. door hinges and THOSE! No trouble on the vette but have had the issue on other vehicles. They definitely fit into the "an ounce of prevention" category.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Before you use brute force and ignorance breaking the adjuster rod or forcing the screws to slide through the adjusters damaging the adjuster, just take the adjusters all apart and clean them up so they work as designed. It's really not that difficult. You take it apart until you have that little housing in hand and then carefully take apart the housing case. At that point, you are holding the adjuster screw with a plastic gear threaded onto it. Clean the exposed threads and turn the gear off the screw, Clean the screw up, lube it and put it all back together.
As another hint. To get the ball and socket connections apart first squeeze the tabs to push the socket out of the metal frame and then you take the socket off the ball. If you try to pull the ball out of the socket first you damage the socket.
As another hint. To get the ball and socket connections apart first squeeze the tabs to push the socket out of the metal frame and then you take the socket off the ball. If you try to pull the ball out of the socket first you damage the socket.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 147
Before you use brute force and ignorance breaking the adjuster rod or forcing the screws to slide through the adjusters damaging the adjuster, just take the adjusters all apart and clean them up so they work as designed. It's really not that difficult. You take it apart until you have that little housing in hand and then carefully take apart the housing case. At that point, you are holding the adjuster screw with a plastic gear threaded onto it. Clean the exposed threads and turn the gear off the screw, Clean the screw up, lube it and put it all back together.
As another hint. To get the ball and socket connections apart first squeeze the tabs to push the socket out of the metal frame and then you take the socket off the ball. If you try to pull the ball out of the socket first you damage the socket.
As another hint. To get the ball and socket connections apart first squeeze the tabs to push the socket out of the metal frame and then you take the socket off the ball. If you try to pull the ball out of the socket first you damage the socket.
I wasn't being ignorant.
You misread what I said.
I said soak them first overnight if they are not ruined.
The Brute Force method is for adjusters that are damaged and have already been stripped and ruined.
Mine worked a bit at first then jammed up.
I made a mistake and didn't realize turning them was problematic until it was too late.
You can try soaking them and/or taking them apart but if they are ruined then brute force will work.
I've taken my headlights out at least 10 times by undoing the top adjuster and just popping the bottom one off with a flat screwdriver.
Takes about 10 minutes.
It popped apart on me while I was fiddling with a flat screwdriver prying on something for some reason I forget, while doing my Radioflyer BiZenons and it was a Eureka! moment
Serendipity (A fortunate accident) is my middle name
fubaring my first adjusters notwithstanding 
I use a pair of pliers to put it back together.
I haven't had any issues with damage as the socket is plastic with 4 cuts and compresses and gives to the metal ball when you force it.
Doesn't take much force.
Trying to take the headlight out by unbolting the bracket from the back of the headlight then putting it back together is a huge pain.
Note ball and socket separated with socket bracket on headlight assembly
This takes 10 minutes
Last edited by StrangelovesM6Vert; Jul 25, 2015 at 09:31 PM.