The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk new taillight bracket & tail light, problem

The new right side taillight and bracket do not line up when the screw on the taillight housing/bezel is on the top, that is the way the left side has to be because of the license plate light at the bottom. The bolts line up both ways and everything is fine with the screw at the bottom, the wire hole fits through and lamp sits flush on the bracket. The long offset middle hole on the bracket for the wire hole of the taillamp housing is not centered between the bolt holes, I think this is the problem. Has anyone had this problem? They say this is how they are machined. Well, my old brackets/lights( about 5 yrs old) do not have this problem. The new ones are polished stainless. Do I drill a notch out to fit it? That's hard to do on something brand new that should be made to fit.

wood,

It's a drag when new things don't fit like they should. I'm not real clear on your application, but if this bracket is the only game in town, would it be a possibility to change the location of the little studs in the taillight housing.

Are they spot welded into the housing? Could you wiggle them free and use two new 1/4 in bolts in new drilled or elongated holes that fit the bracket and center the wire. Solder them in the housing and repaint it. This is a better option than grinding and drilling on the new stainless (hard) bracket isn't it.

Stuart

You don't say what vehicle. If you're referring to THIS taillight the screw is supposed to be on the bottom.

I had the same problem, the light would fit upside down but not the right way. I just used a file to enlarge the hole on the bracket.

Sorry guys, it's a '51 1/2 ton. Yes, it fits upside down(screw on bottom), but then it is not the same as the left side that has the light for the license plate. All venders look to have the same. Guess I'll have to notch it.

As already stated above...I had the same problem on my 51 and yes you'll have to enlarge the hole

Wood, we discussed this on Dec.10, 2006 here is a link to that thread:
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...am&topic=0&Search=true#Post98370
This is a picture of my solution:
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2876706220098611668iJecQN
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I guess I learned three lessons today. One is to read a thread well before commenting. In the thread Denny references I missed the part about the right side light being upside down OEM. The second is that the light IS upside down. I never realized that before but I shouldn't be surprised. The third is that thread links didn't make the transition to the new 'bolt. At least my link in that thread didn't. I guess I can proudly say I learned something today.

Was just down this road last week, I fabbed up my own brackets to fit these lights.
it was a bugger to measure for a template then I thought use a pc. of paper, just pushed the studs through and marked the wire exit hole...whalla!...good template for drillin holes.
Tim

Thanks again guys. I took care of it today, had to make sure I left enough for the stainless wire conduit to hold in place.
You would think they would correct this, or were they originally one side up(left side) and one down? Would not look correct to me. Like I said, the ones on my truck now, both screws are up and there is no modification to the brkt.