HELP! Third Brake Light Replacement - Any tips?

Good afternoon,

I recently purchased the third brake light kit from Tacoma Lifestyle when it was on the black Friday sale. I read and watched a video from Taco Lifestyle about the install, and knew it was a difficult one. I've got experience working on cars and have fully restored a '77 Bronco and done a lot of work on my own cars, so I figured I'd be able to tackle this.

This Saturday I had some spare time and decided to give it a try from the instructions that I saw on the video. I removed the two coat hooks to gain access to the 10mm bolts that hold down the brake light. There still was no where near enough room for me to be able to see the bolts, let alone get a socket on them to get them out. After reading the reviews and looking at how long the posts are on the replacement third brake light, I had a feeling that I was getting myself in to something that could cause me to either not be able to get the new bolts on, or I was going to damage the headliner. Or even worse, get the new one on and it leak down the road.

Does anyone have any tips that made this install easier? Is there more things I can remove to be able to drop the headliner down more so I can at least get my head behind it and my arm with a deep socket to be able to get these two 10 mm nuts off and then install the new one? I've got an all black truck with the smoked Form taillights and I'd really like to change the third brake light to be smoked too, but if the install is this much of a pain, I might just forget about it and live with the clear lens third brake light, or tint it myself.

Thanks in advance for any tips.

 

On a 2nd gen you have a fair amount of work to pull down the headliner. It was 5-6 years ago. I had to remove the clothes hooks, I think they twist off. The hand holds, bolt on. Some of the rear pillar trim may have to be removed. You should then be able to get your hand under there.

Best rear window picture I have.

 

Yeah it looks like not a very fun process. I think I'm going to need to get the headliner down to around the dome light or so to be comfortable to get myself behind it, and not bend it. This truck has like 7,000 miles on it and I don't want to mess up expensive interior parts..yet.

I'm beginning to question whether or not its worth it to change the light at all.

 

Yeah,,,,,, that’s a big F No.
With 7k on clock, I’d send it back, or put it in a time capsule for 2060 when the headliner starts saggging.

 

As rnish said, it's a lot of work. To do it without headliner damage. Pull c- pillar panels, b- pillar panels, at the minimum to drop it enough. To get at brake light bolts. Warning if you damage it new headliner is $1500

 

Yeah thats what I figured. Take off the coat hanger hooks in the back, take off the plastic behind the handle to get to the bolts to pull those off, the dome light cover, then the B and C pillar covers that meet up to the headliner... I'm sure there is something else also.. Just to be able to drop that thing in the back a good 24" or so without folding it. Since I have the sunroof I'm sure that would be as far forward as I can go in terms of dropping just the back of the headliner.

I really want to go with the blacked out rear brake light but this just may not be worth it.

 

Ha! I bought the MESO fixture and BD lights then realized how much work was involved to install. I’ve had them for months as a result but do intend to do it at some point. My truck did have the light replaced by Toyota even though it wasn’t leaking and I didn’t notice any damaged parts so ………..

 

Use a 1/4” thumb ratchet, makes it so much easier.

Like this:

$28 GEARWRENCH 2 Pc. 1/4" & 3/8" Drive Thumbwheel Ratchet Set,72 Tooth - 81222

https://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-8...3994bca7754cc1ca603d&ref=&adgrpid=65583250281

You also need to drop the grab handles so the headliner will come down far enough. At least I did.

 

Drop the headliner down, and while you are in there, put some sound deading mat on the roof. You will thank me later.

 

https://youtu.be/aGv6AbZRuus?si=0l5AVDe2APyYqAdU