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Do headlights get better than this???

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by pinchetaco, Nov 11, 2015.

  1. Nov 11, 2015 at 1:18 PM
    #1
    pinchetaco

    pinchetaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    6 inch ProComp Lift, 35s, ProComp Wheels, 4.88 gears, Debadged, BHLM, Dome Light Mod, Trailer Plug Relocated
    So I've finally decided to "restore" my headlights. I used sand paper to do it. Went from 800 to 1000 to 1500 to 2000. Then I used rubbing compound and a drill with a mothers headlight ball on it. There's a definite improvement but idk if they could get better. What you guys think? 398d5f1bd7f4dfc2d9bb2cc6f46ed2fb_62994b9726d569516976bc269b276ce9d91da274.jpga4309bfe887279bee1f1b17fbab87586_e373506d5273a23ccac965eb71e49c41204def77.jpg
     
  2. Nov 11, 2015 at 1:21 PM
    #2
    EGoldie

    EGoldie Some Miles Under My Belt

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    You should be able to restore them to crystal clear again. Keep working! An actual buffer helps a lot instead of the drill.
     
  3. Nov 11, 2015 at 1:25 PM
    #3
    Maximus

    Maximus Well-Known Member

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    They're still a bit dull. Keep going!

    Off topic but is that your wallet?? Talk about back pain :eek:
     
    ChadsPride, Blackout14 and Djbaha66 like this.
  4. Nov 11, 2015 at 1:32 PM
    #4
    JB

    JB ....................

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    You can get it back to crystal clear, but it takes some time. I have a 2002 VW GTI and the headlights were awful. I got the meguiars headlight restore kit and used a drill. I did it almost a year ago and they still look great. Below are the before and after.

    Before
    IMG_2417.jpg

    During
    IMG_7128.jpg

    After
    IMG_7126.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

    jdg, patbegley, billybob50 and 3 others like this.
  5. Nov 11, 2015 at 1:47 PM
    #5
    pinchetaco

    pinchetaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    6 inch ProComp Lift, 35s, ProComp Wheels, 4.88 gears, Debadged, BHLM, Dome Light Mod, Trailer Plug Relocated
    Yeah the wallet is a bit much. Way past due for a clean out.

    Man if I could get them like that I'd be stoked! I'll keep working at them. PITA!
     
  6. Nov 11, 2015 at 1:49 PM
    #6
    JB

    JB ....................

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    It took me several hours to get it right on both headlights but I was very please with the results. Are you using the meguiars kit?
     
  7. Nov 11, 2015 at 1:56 PM
    #7
    pinchetaco

    pinchetaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    6 inch ProComp Lift, 35s, ProComp Wheels, 4.88 gears, Debadged, BHLM, Dome Light Mod, Trailer Plug Relocated
    I just went and bought sandpaper. I have a mothers kit but decided to do it that way.

    Idk how much I should sand them and which grit of sanding will be the most effective and important.
     
  8. Nov 11, 2015 at 2:00 PM
    #8
    JB

    JB ....................

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  9. Nov 11, 2015 at 2:03 PM
    #9
    Noelie84

    Noelie84 What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

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    You should be wet-sanding them, at least when you get to finer grits. Keeps the paper from clogging so it's more effective for longer. Does a better job.
     
  10. Nov 11, 2015 at 2:08 PM
    #10
    pinchetaco

    pinchetaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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  11. Nov 11, 2015 at 2:09 PM
    #11
    JB

    JB ....................

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    godspeed :thumbsup:
     
  12. Nov 11, 2015 at 2:10 PM
    #12
    pinchetaco

    pinchetaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    6 inch ProComp Lift, 35s, ProComp Wheels, 4.88 gears, Debadged, BHLM, Dome Light Mod, Trailer Plug Relocated
    Yeah I've been wet sanding them. I've wet sanded through the whole process from 800 all the way to 2000.

    I guess I should sand for a lot longer and then focus on polishing them.
     
  13. Nov 11, 2015 at 2:13 PM
    #13
    Noelie84

    Noelie84 What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

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    yeah, you want to sand long enough to get them down to fresh plastic, and then polish the crap out of them.
     
  14. Nov 11, 2015 at 2:29 PM
    #14
    pinchetaco

    pinchetaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    6 inch ProComp Lift, 35s, ProComp Wheels, 4.88 gears, Debadged, BHLM, Dome Light Mod, Trailer Plug Relocated
    That makes sense. Back to the 800 grit it is.
     
  15. Nov 11, 2015 at 2:59 PM
    #15
    Jakers83

    Jakers83 Well-Known Member

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    I went to Walmart and bought the motheres Nelens for like $30. It used 800 then 1500 then a special 3000 grit disk then the polishing compound.It worked great and really only took me about half an hour to do and they are crystal clear now
     
  16. Nov 13, 2015 at 2:37 PM
    #16
    pinchetaco

    pinchetaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    6 inch ProComp Lift, 35s, ProComp Wheels, 4.88 gears, Debadged, BHLM, Dome Light Mod, Trailer Plug Relocated
    Well I went and sanded one light for an hour. Working my way up to 2000. Then polished for a while. It looked like there was a haze on the inside so I took the light apart and polished the inside. Idk if I can get much better. 5e25d98f9d69f2d7b7967f1656177a20_6ade30138e7f3c57970fffc4c766e1288846e3e6.jpg
     
  17. Nov 14, 2015 at 6:40 AM
    #17
    Jakers83

    Jakers83 Well-Known Member

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    That's pretty good now you need to use a lens compound. That why I like the mothers. It comes with a a polishing ball for a drill and the compound
     
  18. Nov 14, 2015 at 7:01 AM
    #18
    pinchetaco

    pinchetaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    6 inch ProComp Lift, 35s, ProComp Wheels, 4.88 gears, Debadged, BHLM, Dome Light Mod, Trailer Plug Relocated
    Yeah that's what I've got. The ball is lookin pretty raggedy now.
     
  19. Nov 14, 2015 at 3:21 PM
    #19
    Justinlhc

    Justinlhc Not looking for a relationship

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    I did the "new headlight mod" on my wife's 4Runner. They were pretty beat and in a desperate attempt to clear them up I used acetone which actually did clear them up, but ended up fucking up the plastic. I planned on new headlights anyways. They're 11 years old in the AZ sun.

    image.jpg
     
  20. Nov 14, 2015 at 6:45 PM
    #20
    DC-USAF

    DC-USAF Well-Known Member

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    If your a member of SAM'S Club they will restore your headlights for $29.88 +tax, and it carries a 5 year warranty. It takes them about 45 minutes to do the job.
     
    Noslow100 and jshsltr like this.

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