I bought a set of +99 headlights from eBay for my '96. The mounting housings are trashed. How does one remove the light from the housing? Specifically the adjustors. I'm going to try to swap the light into my original '96 housings. I gotta believe if I do this right they won't even need reaimed. Anybody done the mod this way?

 

yeah, its easy. do you have them yet? if you have them in front of you what i'm gonna say will make a lot more sense..

what you do is undo the spring, squess the tabs on the opposite corner of the springs to let the clip through, then unscrew the white adjusters all the way off. this goes a lot faster with a socket in a drill. they're a lot longer than you would think, so just keep turning it counter-clockwise until the housing comes off the light.

 

garrett........

Thanks alot, useful info! Yea, I got them this week, just glanced at them. I assume that since I'll unscrew the white adjusters they will need reaimed once installed? BTW.....stole these things at $36 each!!!

 

Yeah pretty strait forward once you have it in front of you, look through this album its got a few pics of the rear basket removed from the lense.
http://community.webshots.com/album/132239144NHbceD
Should atleast give you some idea of what it will look like

 

Exactly what I was looking for! Thanks alot guys.

 

dont wanna jack the thread but im really interested in doing this, but how do u even get the headlights out off the 4runner? i didnt look really good, but seemed like id have to go through a lot of work to get em off. any writeups? pics?

 

REALLY easy you'll get it once you actually start doing it

 

how do u take those clip things out that are holding the grill n stuff on?

 

Those clips are the BIGGEST PITA I've ever had to deal with. I installed my headlights last night....it took 1.5hrs total. I must have taken a good 20-30mins trying to get the grill clips to let go! The lights are a worthy mod, far superior to the 96-99's.

 

On ebay there is always some people selling 4Runner lights for $199. Those are not actual Toyota brand lights, are they?
How are the aftermarket lights? Anybody with ane experience wih those?

 

i saw those too. if anyone is selling a used pair though, id gladly take them. those prices are really an issue for me...but hey, looks arent cheap i guess. btw. theres a seller on there now selling em for 81 per side iirc. anyway, yeah anyone with experience taking the front end apart, shed some light on this issue. i fiddled with it using a flathead n needlenose pliers for a few minutes and figured there must be an easier way. there a tool from toyota?

 

aww they arent too bad if you know how to work 'em

just stick a flathead screwdriver on top of them, push down, and pull the grill out. do the rest of the clips while holding the grill out with one hand so the clips you've already undone dont reconnect.

from there, slide the body color 1" wide piece of metal (below lights) towards the middle of the truck, remove a screw or two holding the corner light on, remove corner light by sliding straight out towards front of truck, then undo the 2 bolts and 2 nuts to remove the light assembly.