Looking for Morimoto XB headlight installation video

[ColoradoBoss]

What do you mean by "measure top of the beam to top of the beam"?

I once saw a video about headlight alignment, and it basically had you pull up close to the wall and mark the top of the beam, and then back away a certain distance and have you adjust the headlights so that they were somewhere in comparison to that first mark. I don't know if it was 2" lower or not, and I don't remember how far you were supposed to back away, since I can't find the video now. Maybe that's what you mean by measuring top of beam to top of beam? Either way, that sounds like an easy way to make sure your lights are pointed down 2" over 25' if you were to do it that way...right

Park the truck 25ft away from a wall on a level surface. Turn on your headlights. Take the tape measure and hold it in front of the headlight, getting as close as you can without bending the tape measure as it reaches the ground. Measure from the ground up. Make note of the measurement of the top of the beam on the tape measure. Go to the wall. Measure from the ground up. Make note of the measurement of the top of the beam on the tape measure. That number at the wall should be two inches lower than what it is at the headlight. I guess I can try to provide pictures if necessary.

 

[Ski4Ever]

Park the truck 25ft away from a wall on a level surface. Turn on your headlights. Take the tape measure and hold it in front of the headlight, getting as close as you can without bending the tape measure as it reaches the ground. Measure from the ground up. Make note of the measurement of the top of the beam on the tape measure. Go to the wall. Measure from the ground up. Make note of the measurement of the top of the beam on the tape measure. That number at the wall should be two inches lower than what it is at the headlight. I guess I can try to provide pictures if necessary.

Oh, I see...so, basicaly the same as what I mentioned about the video I'd seen, where you actually pull your vehicle up to the wall and mark the top of the beam.

 

[ColoradoBoss]

What? The dots are used to measure the distance from the dot to the ground. It is an absolute measurement - while i still don’t understand what you are saying it sure sounds like your method is guessing.

If you are measuring from the center of the headlight, how will you find the center on the wall? I want to understand how you are aiming headlights if I am doing it wrong so I can start doing it the right way.

 

[ColoradoBoss]

Oh, I see...so, basicaly the same as what I mentioned about the video I'd seen, where you actually pull your vehicle up to the wall and mark the top of the beam.

I've never done it that way but I suppose it should work the same way.

 

[nikhsub1]

If you are measuring from the center of the headlight, how will you find the center on the wall? I want to understand how you are aiming headlights if I am doing it wrong so I can start doing it the right way.

The proper way to align headlights is to get the distance from the dot on the headlight lens to the ground, for this example let's say it's 40 inches. Now, take your vehicle and make sure it is 25 feet from a wall or a board to measure the beams - obviously you need level ground. Now, on your wall or board measure 2" shorter than the 40" which would be 38". Make a line with tape at 38" on the wall or board that is 25 feet away. Have your cutoff of the beam pattern sit at the tape line.

Some folks will have the passenger side just slightly higher than the tape and the driver side slightly lower - preference etc.

 

[ColoradoBoss]

The proper way to align headlights is to get the distance from the dot on the headlight lens to the ground, for this example let's say it's 40 inches. Now, take your vehicle and make sure it is 25 feet from a wall or a board to measure the beams - obviously you need level ground. Now, on your wall or board measure 2" shorter than the 40" which would be 38". Make a line with tape at 38" on the wall or board that is 25 feet away. Have your cutoff of the beam pattern sit at the tape line.

Some folks will have the passenger side just slightly higher than the tape and the driver side slightly lower - preference etc.

So rather than top of beam to top of beam you're going middle of beam to top of beam? Wouldn't the headlights be too low then?

 

[nikhsub1]

The point is you need to have a reference from the center of the headlight to the ground. Without that, you are just guessing. Also note, for lower vehicles, I think it is if the light is less than 34 inches or so, you can aim them to 34", meaning you don't aim them 2 inches lower than the center of the light - for trucks though, you do.

 

[melvimbe]

I've never done it that way but I suppose it should work the same way.

At 25 ft, a 2 inch drop is pointing down about 5%. If you measured from the center of the headlight, instead of top, then maybe add another 4 inches...or 6 inch total drop. That's about 15% lower.

I honestly think it doesn't matter as long as the lights are pointing downwards, and either method gets you there. One is just more conservative than the other.

 

[blwn]

Lots of posts on this huh.. I've always used the center of the light as discussed and shown in the owners manual:

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/vdirsnet/OwnerManual/Home/Content?variantid=6500&languageCode=en&countryCode=USA&Uid=G1644998&ProcUid=G1688206&userMarket=USA&div=f&vFilteringEnabled=False

 

[nikhsub1]

Lots of posts on this huh.. I've always used the center of the light as discussed and shown in the owners manual:

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/vdirsnet/OwnerManual/Home/Content?variantid=6500&languageCode=en&countryCode=USA&Uid=G1644998&ProcUid=G1688206&userMarket=USA&div=f&vFilteringEnabled=False

Yes and there is only ONE correct way, the way your link says and what I've described - the rest is all nonsense.