Headlight restoration

This has probably been covered on here before but I wanted to post a few pictures of my headlight restoration (if you want to call it that) from today.

I saw this video and decided to give it a try myself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsyUgXKdXu0

I didn't even do every step in this video. All I did was buy some sanding discs for my drill. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M5EYXML/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Then dipped those discs in soapy water and grind away at the headlights for several passes each and it made a huge difference. Rinsed them off and all done! Took maybe 20 minutes tops. Here are the before and afters:

 

Definitely an improvement. Don't be surprised if the haze comes back though... it pretty much always does. If you keep them waxed then it'll help keep 'em clear longer. Or go full bore and sand 'em down even more and refinish with an automotive quality clear coat (plus keep them waxed) if you want them to stay clear for years and years to come.

 

Yeah, I assume it will turn yellow again at some point. I will just see how long it takes and if it is worth doing more to protect it. If I just do this once a year or 2 at most, then it isn't too big of a deal to me. If it is more often than that then I'll put a clear coat and wax on them.

 

Did you not use plastic polish?

 

Just soapy water. Nothing else.

 

Cerakote makes a kit that polishes and then you coat with their ceramic coating. Guaranteed as long as you own the car/truck. I hit the kit off ebay with free shipping or yiu can check their website

 

Consider me very interested. Recently bought the Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit, but I'm very interested in this next year...lol

 

The big key thing with restoration is when you get them clear, spray them with a single heavy coat of UV protection. That is what will keep them from yellowing back up.
I even spray my new headlights about once a year.

 

Anybody remember the old glass headlights, they stayed clear forever, never needed anything but washing. Gosh I wish these new & improved, govt. mandated, plastic ones were nearly as good. I wonder if an aftermarket co. made a glass replacement, would they be legal to sell or use.

 

Were they changed due to cost? Or safety? I imagine the less glass at a crash site, the better.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2006-headlights.579146/

 

I actually much prefer plastic over glass. The issue isn't so much the material but the way it's finished and the way people maintain it. Your car is metal and it's coated (paint) to protect it. These lights need a similar UV coating to protect them but OEM's don't seem to care. My guess is that most people don't keep cars long so by the time they are fading badly it's just one more list of reasons that person wants a new car.

Additionally, most people aren't even aware that they need to maintain their plastic headlights (rather than just overlooking them entirely). Many people will even wax their cars but neglect to wax the lights

I actually wish our country would get it's act together and start allowing MORE changes and improvements to our lights as our current standards are now antiquated. Countries in Europe/Asia are starting to develop some absolutely amazing headlight standards and the technology is getting pretty wild. OEM's are putting great headlights in cars destined for other countries and then just sticking basic, lower quality lights on cars destined for the US market because of our different (worse) standards. It seems that when it comes to cars the US market never gets the cream of the crop

 

Partially cost. Glass costs more than plastic. Partially engineering issues. For instance, plastics expand and contract at different rates than glass. If you tried adhering a glass lens to a plastic housing, it would only be a matter of time before the seal failed. Weight is also an issue believe it or not. Anything that can be done to reduce weight - to increase mileage - is a pretty high priority.

 

I did the Sylvania headlight restoration kit and it worked very well.

$22 SYLVANIA - Headlight Restoration Kit - 3 Easy Steps to Restore Sun Damaged Headlights With Exclusive UV Block Clear Coat, Light Output and Beam Pattern Restored, Long Lasting Protection

https://www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-Headlight-Restoration-Headlights-Protection/dp/B00429NKWK

The main component is the last step when you apply the final clear coating. All the haze went away and looked new. Project Farm on YouTube also did a review on various brands and this came out on top. FYI

 

Used this kit last night. Worked pretty well on my 08. The hand buffing with "head light restore polish" wasnt cutting it anymore and still left a yellow hue/haze.

 

Before and after pics... forgot to add that I used plenty of water while using the discs but that white oxidized substance made my garage floor really slipper/slick. Highly recommend a good sweeping after the water has dried.

 

FMVSS changed to allow the "aero" style or molded headlights. Everything used to use standard sealed beam headlights so you knew what the output and beam pattern were.

I've got the IPF drop in's for my jeep and they put the taco lights to shame.