Headlamp adjustment

[DMT]

Hi Folks

I am trying to adjust my headlamps. I have 4 x Main/Low CE marked LED bulbs with Lucas lens's and metal original bowls.

The light pattern is good, with the Dip having a nice clean flat cutoff, and the Main nice and bright.

I cannot seem to get the adjustment needed to get them in the correct position though.

It looks as if the lamp mounting back plate has been twisted at bit!!

Is it normal to have to space out the bowl locations to get a good starting point, as when they are screwed flat onto the gasket they seem way off?

I assume to perfect way would be to realign the back plate but this wee bit drastic for me.

Dave

[trunt]

Not sure if it’s usual but yes, I had to add a couple of washers behind the mounting screws to get the adjustment I wanted.

When I did the bodywork I was aware of a wee bit of distortion in that area, maybe it took a knock at some time? Nothing serious.

Terry

[DMT]

Thanks Terry

Dave

[DMT]

I have adjusted two so far.

I removed the glass and adjusted the empty bowls so they are square and vertical when the adjusters give an equidistant gap all round.

One bowl needed a 10mm standoff for the horizontal adjustment and the other bowl 4 washers at two points to give a vertical adjustment.

Tomorrow will do the other two.

Dave

[new to this]

I have adjusted two so far.

I removed the glass and adjusted the empty bowls so they are square and vertical when the adjusters give an equidistant gap all round.

One bowl needed a 10mm standoff for the horizontal adjustment and the other bowl 4 washers at two points to give a vertical adjustment.

Tomorrow will do the other two.

Dave

Are your plastic adjusters working okay,ive found they have a habit of sticking and the ends round off, i made new adjusters for mine from stainless steel alun key bolts

Dave

[sujitroy]

You mention LED bulbs. I've had issues with alignment with LED bulbs. (the cheap type) The location of the led segment is quite critical. Compare where the segments sits compared to a regular bulb. My main beams can track a UFO. They are that far out, but dip beams are OK.
Sujit

[DMT]

I bought new adjusters, the old ones were in better shape!!! The new design is poor but I mixed and matched to get the best 8. After greasing they seemed to work OK.

I have the CE stamped LED's at about 60 quid a pair. They seem to be pretty good with a nice flat cut-off on Low. I had a problem getting them adjusted so am trying to at least start from a square and vertical starting position.

I have not yet been out at night, but at dusk I was not getting flashed on dip with all 4 lights on.

Dave

[jbuckl]

Call me a ludlight but I used new lamps with halogen bulbs…seem fine.

[trunt]

Call me a ludlight but I used new lamps with halogen bulbs…seem fine.

+1 Especially when you go from the sealed beam units that I had before.

[singapore stag]

" Are your plastic adjusters working okay,ive found they have a habit of sticking and the ends round off, i made new adjusters for mine from stainless steel alun key bolts "

That is ingenious! I think I will do the same.

[DMT]

I went the LED route because I wanted 4 Main and Dips and decided this was the best way to reduce the current through the system.

I also went belt and braces and fitted a relay unit so only relay loads were being switched.

Dave

[DJT]

I went the LED route because I wanted 4 Main and Dips and decided this was the best way to reduce the current through the system.

I also went belt and braces and fitted a relay unit so only relay loads were being switched.

Dave

I have been using 4 main and 4 dips with H4 halogen headlamps for about 10 years. Wired through relays there is less strain on the OE wiring than the original setup and the lights are as bright as any modern (possibly with the exception of some eye-searing LED setups on new SUVs).

[new to this]

" Are your plastic adjusters working okay,ive found they have a habit of sticking and the ends round off, i made new adjusters for mine from stainless steel alun key bolts "

That is ingenious! I think I will do the same.

They were simple to do,the bolts were 1/4 unf ,drill a hole through the bolt put a split pin with two washers either side of the headlamp ring