3rd Brake Light Install….The Easy Way

Little over an hour
Been researching here
And NO FREAKING WAY was I going remove or attempt to drop headliner.
Found some member who used a dremmel to cut old housing to gain access to 10mm bolts
Started with that theory, but found better way.
Let it be known that most of work was dealing with the cheap ass design of the led light.
Definitely got what I paid for.

Hopefully this helps out someone!

 

Decided to try cutting away the housing tabs first….to see if would work
Housing did become looser
So had idea to put back screw then use the head of screw to pry housing off

 

It worked!

 

So here is where the Chinese problems came into play
AM lite mounts where the 10mm housing bolts go
Besides coming with no hardware, had to think
There is no way to secure bolt to tighten screw head to mount the new light

I scavenged the clip nuts from the old front turn signals
Trimmed
And used them

 

Re wired/crimped the OE pigtail

 

Just in case, sealed.

 

Done

 

I’ll be doing this for the 3rd time pretty soon here. I have that same smoked lense and they fade over time. Going back to red.

 

LOL…..would expect nothing less!
(Will be kid’s truck)

how was your install?

 

Thanks Steven for pursuing this install to a conclusion without dropping the headliner

I have an LED 3rd brake light that I stalled on installing after learning about the headliner dropping process.

I'll be using your method as soon as I can locate those clip nuts you used. If anyone has a PN or other identifying details so I can get the exact ones you used, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks again.

Mike

 

It’s not terrible to do it through the cab. Just undo the back seatbelts and some of the trim and you can pull it down enough. Took me maybe 30 minutes.

 

#7!

 

Semco
The driver side ‘slot’ is thinner than R side
I found another thinner ‘fixed clip’ in my toolbox
Or
Can use same #7 trimmed clip and use a file to open up the thinner slot on L side
Looks like this….

 

This sounds a lot less intimidating than the full Monty headliner drop

Mike

 

Thanks!

this is very helpful to getting me on target for the retaining clips.

Mike

 

NP brother!

IMO…..anything I can do to help

It’s rare in this day and age that humans actually TRY to work on old, perfectly good vehicles.
That’s why I’m here….to help and LEARN from anyone
Cheers

 

Riv-nuts are a lifesaver.

 

And if anyone wants/needs the OE lens for free PM me