3rd Brake Light Outer Cover 3M Adhesive Seal

So, I know this has been discussed ad-nauseum but I can't find any thread specifically addressing the OUTER cover of the 3rd brake light.

I just replaced with the smoked out 3rd Brake Light from @tacomalifestyle but it doesn't come with the templated double-sided 3M seal for the outer cover. Instead they advise to use 3m tape, but the problem is turning the corner you will lose seal because it doesn't bend that sharply.

I called my local Toyota dealership in Walnut Creek, CA and they said the only way to get that templated 3m seal for the outer cover is to purchase a new 3rd brake light assembly from Toyota ($$$). Mine was already replaced with the recall before I purchased it.

The gasket seal was not perfectly centered on the new brake light I installed but it still sucked down/sealed down well when I tightened it on, over the hole so I think it is waterproofed OK but I want the added protection of a perfect seal for the outer cover without jerry-rigging 3M tape, or making complex cuts of tape to get a good seal.

What are my options on this?

See pic for reference.

 

Interested in this as well, I have the same brake light waiting to be installed, but Ive been putting it off because I heard it was a nightmare to install! I read somewhere that you can use Permatex RTV but that seems messy. Is your new light leaking?

 

What about window weld or betalink like bmw uses for body kit parts?

 

This seems to be the same as OEM. Wouldn't need the bezel the kit comes with which really only covers up the sealant they use around the edge.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274949051845?itmmeta=01HV6PQ0TPSHSEBHBE3DWXHMVW&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0FewavgF0%2FNJxnLS6yLzS0+pUHlx29%2F2c4h5T%2Fdq1tVhTDMl50MHDiEBRFM+vwf8WcdjQrwPQHbBBg4787X+oR9s6zrXoDz2BxQhHaW0OSXCgUfQbl0NXL3Nw0dzuRiKWWKhBVDbSE72VKNAy0QUtBC7YhKy9UpBDUxLvX8vYGrVBANdIlEq9bkuqXnaXlKGGy1daFDIy2YJySXB0lsOFlG6S2MXwHfFufu3bD44CFcXCpK%2F8IMa2OP9D2USyuCwKttY1zlopN4uK3sd0lZA0e0%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7iN3NbZYw

 

This is not for the outer cover, it's for the actual brake light.

 

I'm sure I could use a liquid sealant but I'd rather have the templated one, or a 1/4" think dual sided 3m pad that I can cut a template from but I can't find something like that. Perhaps because I don't know what it is called technically so I may be searching for the wrong keywords.

 

From what I can tell, the seal around the actual light sat well outside the hole and sealed the light down well, but I'm not convinced 100%

Sure would be great for @tacomalifestyle to include a templated 3M double sided gasket for the outer cover. I didn't anticipate this problem, and their instructional video says to use 3M tape but that doesn't seem feasible with the bends.

 

I have used this before. This was used to seal mine from my local bodyshop that I used.

$8 3M VHB Tape 4646, 1/8" x 5 yards, 1 roll

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Tape-0-125-width-length/dp/B00HLY50P8?crid=1EM9C09HTM13Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MMArezil5gprw25-FNKgV6JUaM-q2Ebl1hInzUPORuOJIURozJd9h6XyDSrS8IhXL_UdCsun1JDNoD1AHOU6jY7QA2Vn-m8pzsfWLGm6FtGEz2XvFR1eeXHG_WCbepPJ4APVy95v0uT7UsGLPRwRalF8aS9nc_Ashs085lR0-q5rzKgaOg_49T11hMGPW4GCxIEXYktQeEZWeli0XTCJNCTxUovTSZgQtxGEKMh2_fg.6yrUeJuK4L3V9zcT8XsX1PmkJcL0wDLeBmvfyobQGOw&dib_tag=se&keywords=1%2F8+3m+auto+tape&qid=1712854620&sprefix=1%2F8+3m+auto+tape%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-3

 

The outer cover is just a bezel. It's for hiding the adhesive they use on the original brake light. The new brake light comes with new, thicker foam sealant. They don't use a bezel on the lights after 2019. I actually bought a new light with the new part # and could see the difference in the foam.

 

No foam holds that piece on. The instructions say to squeeze just enough sealant on so is squeezes out out like 3mm from under the light. The you push the bezel in place and the sealant holds it in place. Toyota's instruction pdf is somewhere around here

 

do you know which sealant I need to use?

 

I do apologize. I gave you bad information. That ring DOES have a an adhesive backing. I found the caimpaign pdf and included it here for you. Looks like it's a thin, double-sided tape

 

they use a trim ring. This is what I’m looking for.

 

@RingTacoma91

Will this work?

$12 MbuyDIY 3rd Third Brake Light Gasket Seal Compatible with 2016-2023 Tacoma High Mount Stop Lamp Assembly, single-sided adhesive

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BY9X61...=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

 

That is actually the gasket for the light itself. He wants to attach the trim ring that comes in the campaign kit.

 

Would using thin 3M double sided tape work? Just put a small strip on the sides and the top and bottom?
If the light is already sealed from the elements, is the trim ring just aesthetic?

 

Whatever tape you use it would have to be thin so the trim ring is flush with the light. Couldn't be thick like that gasket you showed.

The trim ring is apart of Toyota"s "fix" for the leaking light. If the light is deemed structurally sound after inspection, they put sealant around the circumference of the light the apply the trim ring which helps push the sealant into the crevices and hides the sealant around the light.

 

from that I understand, you are correct. I will use the sealant mentioned in the graphic I posted, then use 3m tape to put the outer ring on. I order a plastic head caulking tool to remove excess sealant when applying around the light and will painter tape to avoid mess.

 

I re-installed the outer ring around my mirimoto 3rd brake light, I used 3M, and it has sealed very well, but I did take my time and clean all of the remnants of the old sticky tape off of the paint