When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I am about to change the driver side headlight gear in my wife’s 99 vert.
She rarely, if ever, drives the car at night due to her sight, but still needs lights for when she gets caught in a rain storm. Definitely not a daily driver.
I can order bronze or nylon gears from Corvette Central.
Is the $50 for the bronze gear worth the extra over the $18 for the nylon gear?
Bronze and a kit from Rodney Dickman
Get a kit like this one (pay attention because there are 2 different kits: one for "97 to early 2000" and another for "late 2000 to 2004") and follow these step-by-step directions. You'll save money and they will last forever.
It would be wise to replace as well the rubber bump stops in both sides (#4 in diagram below). You can get them here.
There is a TSB, that calls for shimming the driver's side motor. The parts needed for this are included in the above mentioned kit (#2 in diagram below).
Thank you.
The motor assemblies look slightly different from each other. The driver side cover over the large gear has no screws while the passenger side does. Is this difference only because I can see the screws or has the driver been changed before?
For less money and time, you could just replace the entire motor with an aftermarket unit. The gear was a cool fix back when there weren't other options around, but I don't see the point of spending more money and wasting time fiddling with r/r of one piece of an otherwise 20 year old motor
For less money and time, you could just replace the entire motor with an aftermarket unit. The gear was a cool fix back when there weren't other options around, but I don't see the point of spending more money and wasting time fiddling with r/r of one piece of an otherwise 20 year old motor
Are the aftermarkets good quality? I really hate putting in Chinese garbage. Do you have any suggestions on brand?
Bronze and a kit from Rodney Dickman
Get a kit like this one (pay attention because there are 2 different kits: one for "97 to early 2000" and another for "late 2000 to 2004") and follow these step-by-step directions. You'll save money and they will last forever.
It would be wise to replace as well the rubber bump stops in both sides (#4 in diagram below). You can get them here.
There is a TSB, that calls for shimming the driver's side motor. The parts needed for this are included in the above mentioned kit (#2 in diagram below).
.
Great information.
talk about GM complicating a ham sandwich!
Are the aftermarkets good quality? I really hate putting in Chinese garbage. Do you have any suggestions on brand?
Plenty of people here have installed them and I haven't seen anyone coming back to say they crapped out. Mine is still going perfectly fine. I hear you on cheap Chinese crap, but it's just a simple headlight motor that doesn't get used very often for most people. If you replace one part of a 20 year old motor and it craps out soon, you'll be in the same boat as if your new aftermarket motor crapped out, right? haha. I saved my OEM motor to have for a gear swap later just in case the aftermarket unit failed, but it'll still be so much easier to just buy another complete unit if that happens. I just bought mine from eBay, no idea on brand unfortunately.
I will gladly buy your take outs and install the Rodney Dickman kit then sell them... Seriously, I installed his kits on both my motors and they are rock solid. A lot of guys find a $50 aftermarket motor and it turns out to be from a firebird (but says fits corvette)and they have to either send them back or disassemble both and swap out shafts.
I will gladly buy your take outs and install the Rodney Dickman kit then sell them... Seriously, I installed his kits on both my motors and they are rock solid. A lot of guys find a $50 aftermarket motor and it turns out to be from a firebird (but says fits corvette)and they have to either send them back or disassemble both and swap out shafts.
I've never heard of that issue, are you sure? I know there is a guy here on the forum that knowingly bought Firebird motors because they were like $10 cheaper and didn't mind swapping a part around. I bought mine labelled as a Corvette motor and it installed without a hitch. It's smoother than the OEM motor on the other side, but it's a 20 year old motor, so what can you expect?
Thank you.
The motor assemblies look slightly different from each other. The driver side cover over the large gear has no screws while the passenger side does. Is this difference only because I can see the screws or has the driver been changed before?...
There are 2 type of headlight motors. Your car is a '99 and if it has has one of each type, it has to be because one of the original motors was replaced with the newer model. They are easy to differentiate (see pictures below):
The 97 to early 2000 motor assembly is all aluminum and has a removable side cover that is held on with 3 machine screws.
The late 2000 to 2004 headlight motor assemblies are plastic and the side cover is glued on.
In any case, early motors (aluminum assembly) and late motors (plastic assembly) are totally interchangeable. You can install one in place of the other without any worries.
Make sure you get the right repair kit for your motor.
There are 2 type of headlight motors. Your car is a '99 and if it has has one of each type, it has to be because one of the original motors was replaced with the newer model. They are easy to differentiate (see pictures below):
The 97 to early 2000 motor assembly is all aluminum and has a removable side cover that is held on with 3 machine screws.
The late 2000 to 2004 headlight motor assemblies are plastic and the side cover is glued on.
In any case, early motors (aluminum assembly) and late motors (plastic assembly) are totally interchangeable. You can install one in place of the other without any worries.
Make sure you get the right repair kit for your motor.
Looks like you got it pegged. I will do that. Thanks.
These still look easier than dealing with the actuators on my C3!
You can always just turn the gear 180 degrees like I did. Costs nothing but time and has been working for several years. My car is a daily driver and I work odd shifts so the headlights get used a lot.
I've never heard of that issue, are you sure? I know there is a guy here on the forum that knowingly bought Firebird motors because they were like $10 cheaper and didn't mind swapping a part around. I bought mine labelled as a Corvette motor and it installed without a hitch. It's smoother than the OEM motor on the other side, but it's a 20 year old motor, so what can you expect?
I just finished installing a new drivers motor from rockauto 10 min. Ago. $68.00 new with shipping. I rarely drive at night so if it last another 17 yrs. I'll be ok. 03 z06. My motor started grinding and the lights would pop up when park light position was selected so new motor fixed both problems. The bumpers were indented pretty good also, so turned them over, all good.
Last edited by bjones7131; Sep 20, 2020 at 01:52 PM.
Headlight gear
Bronze and a kit from Rodney Dickman 
Found em!
