Springs actually pull DOWN (or back) on headlight buckets. Are like 3rd leg of a stool -- two adjusting screws work against them. Are surprising inexpensive from vendors ($2 does whole car) -- next time anyone places an order, add four for future use. Originals are thin gauge untreated steel. Doesn't take much road salt etc to kill them. In a pinch you can cut pieces of long tension spring from a hardware store or Lowes, but final cost will be about same as proper springs purchased in advance. Bill Robertson #5939 >--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "K. Creason" <dmc4687@xxxx> wrote: > Here is what I think happened... > it's nothing really compared to y'alls engine swaps and such. > There a little spring that pulls up on the light assembly-- both of mine > were hanging loose and disconnected, and what's more the springs were fine, > the frame was fine. In fact, the light frame is black right there and it > wasn't even scratched. > I wonder if those little springs were forgotten at the factory-- but it > seems hard to believe that it took 22 years for the headlights to slip off > the adjusting screws and fall down. > Anyway-- springs all hooked up, back in the adjusting screw grooves and > hunky-dory. > > -Kevin > #4687 > Houston (lamenting his job that requires him to work this one weekend and > miss the DMC OH... oh well, I have friends in high places who need me) > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: content22207 [mailto:brobertson@xxxx] > Sent: Friday, May 02, 2003 5:09 PM > To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [DML] Re: loose bright lights > > > Your headlights seem to have gotten lost amid engine swaps and fuel > distributors eh? > > Each sealed beam assembly is held to a bucket by aluminum frame and > four sheet metal screws. Bucket is then held to header panel by two > adjusting screws and a tension spring. Standard arrangement for any > vehicle of that vintage. > > Two possibilities: > Unlikely: > Sheet metal screws have come loose, allowing sealed beam to flop > around in bucket. > Likely: > 1) tension springs have rusted to pieces, especially the bent coil > that holds them to bucket/header, removing tension that holds > everything in place > 2) tabs on plastic retainers that hold adjusting screws to header > panel have gotten old, brittle, and broken. This will actually let the > bucket fall out. > > Remove aluminum frames, unplug sealed beams, and investigate. If > tension springs are DOA, can cut and bend new ones from a single long > spring (but prices from vendors are so cheap you might as well go that > route, time permitting). If tabs on adjusting screw retainers are > broken can substitute the "1/4 Inch Universal" size from "Help" brand > (red packages at parts houses). Cost much less than vendors. > > Don't forget to re-aim your headlights afterwards. > > Bill Robertson > #5939 > > >--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "K. Creason" <dmc4687@xxxx> wrote: > > I noticed this week that my brights have come loose. > > It's like they've popped out from the adjustment bracket. I haven't been > > working on that end, only in the back, so it's nothing I've done. > > I am just now starting to get the eyebrows, but nothing serious yet. I > > should correct that before it worsens, though. > > > > Any ideas on what made the loose headlights? > > > > -Kevin > > #4687 > > > > To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: > moderators@xxxx > > For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com > > To search the archives or view files, log in at > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/