replace cheap plastic light sockets

[jmkjr72]

this project came about because last night on my way home my wife said it was very hard to see me well it turns out my tail light wasnt working
i pulled the cover off and twisted the bulb and it started working again well it came loose two more times today so its time to make things all good
i had been wanting to do a lighting upgrade so i didnt bother with any warranty stuff


this is the underside of my tail light

as you can see the bulb is only held in by the plastic housing and has some cheap copper strips for contacts


so what did i get i got a standard 1157 automotive socket and upgrade from single filiment bulbs
i decided to go with the 1157 so the tail and brake light run off of one bulb i will add a second socket later when i get another one (i thought i had two at the house)

ok just remove the bulb and pull the copper strips out
my new socket was bigger then the hole so i had to enlarge it with the good old dremmel

instead of sodering on a spot for the ground i reused the copper grounding strip but the fit is so tight i shouldnt have any issued


tail light


brake light

[90GTVert]

Nice work. I replaced my whole houseing with an LED unit because I had the same trouble as you with bulbs twisting out of place.