LED Bulbs in Stock Headlight Housings?

[Roert42]

A whiter/ blue light will have worse performance at distance, even with the same lumans. The whiter lights do not penetrate as well, and you are more likely to see a hard line where you can’t see beyond.

where as a more yellow light, even at lower lumans, it’s more of a gradual decline.

 

[sgtsandman]

It depends on the on coming traffic. I have the stock head lights and bulbs and I get flashed on occasion even though I don’t have my high beams on. It always seems to be lower slung cars that are the ones doing the flashing.

Hope the LEDs work out for you in the long run.

 

[55trucker]

Decent selection for what can be had......the 3 sided filament board seems to be the best selection for led's where aiming is concerned. Hopefully you have them installed so that the third board (hi beam filament) is pointing down (6 o'clock position), this keeps the blinding situation to the minimum seeing as the 2 other filament boards are the low beam provision & they need to be pointed upwards & to the sides when mounted into the headlamp.

One doesn't see a 4300k very often in an LED bulb, much better than the usual 6000 or 6500k.

 

[bruker]

Still running those LED's and no issues.

 

[superj]

i put leds into my stock housings a while ago. and no problems yet

 

[Lefty]

I'm not crazy about LEDs. I just went old school, added the halogen fogs, and aimed them accordingly. Hella sent along a helpful chart about aiming. All you really need to know is to aim below your low beams on something like your garage door.

 

[Blmpkn]

3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

3rd Gen Tacoma HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights This thread covers upgrading the 3rd gen Tacoma H11 headlights and looking at the...

www.tacomaworld.com

I know this is from the 'enemy' website... but its full of real deal science that applies to EVERY halogen reflector housing... not just the tacos.

Drop in LED's are a net loss in lighting performance, every time. They also blind other drivers regardless of how well someone thinks they have them aimed.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Blmpkn, this is one of those areas where "your mileage may vary". I've been using LED replacement bulbs in stock housings, first Auxito, then Fahren, for well over a year. Switched to Fahren for the headlamps after an Auxito unit had one element fail. Got the Fahren units while I filed a warranty claim with Auxito, and they replaced both bulbs, so I still have the Auxitos as backups. I replaced the old headlight housings after I bought the truck, so those are in excellent condition.

Both brands have been a big improvement at night over the stock 9007 bulbs. The new beams are a little patchy, but still brighter and project better down the road, especially on high beam.

I suspect that if the old housings are yellowed and overdue for replacement, LEDs aren't much use. In some designs of reflector, ditto, but I got lucky with the Ranger housings. Also, the bulbs I got from Auxito and Fahren are the top of the line versions, not low-end. That probably makes a difference. My aiming was very careful and I seldom get flashed.

 

[Ranger850]

I seldom get flashed.

BUT, you do get flashed. Which means some people don't flash you, but you're probably still making them squint and look away.
This subject has gotten to CAI status, all the science and knowledge is out there, some ppl choose to ignore it.

 

[Mechrick]

A whiter/ blue light will have worse performance at distance

Truth.

I removed blue LED's from my Subaru (they were the ones that can be toggled white/blue by turning them off and back on). Went back to a standard halogen and beams were not necessarily brighter, but focused better on the roadway.

Yellow-leaning beams are better for rain-slicked roadways and heavy falling snow. I looked for LED's that could be toggled between white and yellow (which seems like a great idea). No dice.

 

[superj]

I park about 5 feet from my garage door and put tape at the light cut offs from the halogens when i change to leds. Then i aim the leds so the cut off is the same.

Has worked on cars, trucks, and jeeps with no problems. Never get flashed, cops don't pull me over, amd it passes inspection

 

[Lefty]

I park about 5 feet from my garage door and put tape at the light cut offs from the halogens when i change to leds. Then i aim the leds so the cut off is the same.

Has worked on cars, trucks, and jeeps with no problems. Never get flashed, cops don't pull me over, amd it passes inspection

That sounds about right. I'm sure there must be similar directions on YouTube

 

[superj]

Maybe, ha ha ha. My kids always check youtube for instructions but i never think of that till its done and i had to do it once or twice on my own

 

[Lefty]

Maybe, ha ha ha. My kids always check youtube for instructions but i never think of that till its done and i had to do it once or twice on my own

I'm one of those guys who never reads directions when "Some assembly is required."

I was at a gas station not long ago. Two cars were up on the lifts and both mechanics were watching YouTube.