HELP: HID Retrofit–Rotational Alignment

To anyone with experience in mini H1 or D2S retro's, I need help. I'd like to start by saying that i'm a complete idiot for not test-firing before resealing and mounting....bear with me, this is still a learning process....

Getting back to the topic, after retrofitting my '98 with mini H1's I came to the startling discovery that my rotational alignment, among other things, was completely outta wack. Driver side appears rotated slightly CW while the passenger side appears rotated heavily CCW. In addition, I'm noticing some 'bowing' in the driver side cutoff, to the right of the step-up.

I naively assumed that the H4 adapter plate would guarantee rotational alignment but boy was I wrong. My question to all of you is this: has anyone experienced similar H1 or D2S rotational/bowing issues during the installation process?

The following are a few photos to illustrate what I've previously described.

Low beam cutoff


Driver side cutoff (notice slight CW rotation + bowing to the right of step-up)

Passenger side cutoff (notice the heavy CCW rotation)


If you have any thoughts, insight, or personal experience please share. Thanks in advance,
Chad

 

You'll get some of the bowing regardless of alignment, it's just what projectors do. You will need to adjust the rotational alignment on the passenger side though. There should be a little bit of 'play' where the supplied alignment tabs fit into the headlight bowl. Sometimes that play is enough but I have heard stories where people have actually had to shave the alignment tab to allow them to rotate the projector to the correct orientation. Pop the lenses, rotate the projector, and dry fit it on the truck without the lens on. Once your satisfied with how they line up, put the lens back on and install the lights. It's a little bit of a guess and check process.

 

Well, thanks for posting these pictures - I don't feel so bad about mine now.

Yep, I did the same thing. My passenger side is rotated a little bit. It could be worse.



Oh wait...it is worse in a different way. I can't rotate them at all.



So I just have to live with it not being perfect. The only recourse I really have is to throw more money at it and see if TRS has a single H1 projector and buy another Pilot housing.

I feel for you...hopefully you can get some rotational adjustment to fix the issue.

 

Thanks for the insight Pugga. I'll definitely take a closer look at my adapter plates. I just hate how much of a hassle it is to take apart the front end to get to the housings....then again, I suppose it's a small price to pay for cutoffs that actually LINE UP! My wacky cutoffs were tolerable—at best—when I first did the retro. Now, they just drive me nutz ....

stikle, props for tackling a retro on those sealed beams! Checked out your build page—I dig the look! As for your alignment, you did a heck of a lot better than me, considering you had to cut. Don't you hate how just a few clicks of maladjustment at the projector leads to INCHES at the cutoff....

 

Yeah...I had no idea I specifically needed to pay attention to getting them exactly level in the housings. I now have a love/hate relationship with JB Weld.

 

Not knowing how the actual headlight assembly is attached to the front of the 98 Tacoma you might be able to add a washer under the mounting tab and shim it up to help with the rotation.