Thanks for the replies, guys. Being the impatient guy that I am, I went by the nearby AutoZone and picked up a pair of 1157 (red) 12 diode LEDs for $16. These are the direct mount style- they install just like replacing a burned out bulb. VERY easy!
After replacing the first bulb, I was stoked because the light was SO BRIGHT. But then I noticed some grounding problems with the other side. Long story short, I have VERY GOOD brightness on both sides at the moment, but no brake lights, only tail lights! I think my problem is that I'm 180° out of phase with the socket. I'm going to mess around with it this weekend and see if I can get it to behave. (I have dedicated grounding wires at each housing, going from the housing bolts to the bolts that hold my bumper to the frame, so I'm ruling out grounding.)
Assuming I can get the intensities to work, this has got to be the easiest, cheapest, and best safety improvement around. I'm pleased that it still looks mostly stock, unless you look through the lens really hard, and that it required nothing more than a twist-n-pull once the lens was removed. Knowing what I know now, I wish I would have done this as the first project on my truck.
If the 180° thing doesn't work, any suggestions on what else to check would be appreciated. The LEDs are 12v, dual intensity, so I believe I'm working with the right equipment, and I had brake and tail lights before the swap. I have no turn signals to factor into the equation.
Mucho appreciado!
Bill
