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Headlight adjusters
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Nikkoleto
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:34 pm    Post subject: Headlight adjusters Reply with quote

I looked thru the threads and really didnt find what I was looking for. Perhaps it is there and I just missed it. I just got a sweet set of headlights and their assemblies for my 87 GL. Before I take everything apart does any know how many headlight adjusters and their part # I will need?
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presslab
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you want the whole shebang Van-Cafe has a kit:
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_460_609/headlight_adjuster_kit.html

If you notice some of the parts are not from VW. Looks like some parts are not available any more so Van-Cafe made their own replacements.
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yggdrasil
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 3:12 pm    Post subject: Yikes! 120 bones ? Reply with quote

My headlights are all wobbly. does anyone have a cheaper solution for this ?
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BushChicken
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 3:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

presslab wrote:
If you want the whole shebang Van-Cafe has a kit:
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_460_609/headlight_adjuster_kit.html

If you notice some of the parts are not from VW. Looks like some parts are not available any more so Van-Cafe made their own replacements.


GoWesty has all of the original parts.

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_search_results.php?search_phrase=headlight+adjusters

You can buy them individually, but, if you get all of them at once, it comes out to be about the same price as the VC kit (actually $0.10 cheaper!).
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Orbitald
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I used some tubing bits to modify the headlight adjusters. This is more of a DIY cheapo mod but its been about 5 years and they are still hanging in there.

The tubing bits I used
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


A thin tube covers the head area of the screw
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Next goes on a small piece of fuel hose
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


The head light bracket is sandwiched between the thin and thick pieces of fuel hose
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A completed assembly in place
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I did the same with the studs by crimping a washer over the assembly
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


The whole deal cost a few dollars in tubing.

Edited to add this note: The thin tube is really tight around the screw. In fact I think I remember threading it on. Likewise the fuel hose is quite snug on the thin tube creating a tight fitting assembly.
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Last edited by Orbitald on Thu Sep 09, 2010 7:40 pm; edited 1 time in total
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IdahoDoug
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Brilliant!
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vwgrl1999
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 8:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Seriously BRILLIANT!!!!

Now I've got a project for my next day off. Thank you, Orbitald!
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PDXWesty
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 8:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The problem with the above fix is that you still need the plastic base in the housing to make it work. In many cases, that's the part that breaks or crumbles. Here's two other posts on fixes for headlight adjusters with different solutions:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=385347&highlight=

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429466&highlight=
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Last edited by PDXWesty on Fri Sep 10, 2010 7:52 am; edited 1 time in total
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yggdrasil
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 7:45 am    Post subject: Thank YOU!!! Reply with quote

I knew there was a way, I was not going to pay that much money for screws and plastic.
Just so happens I'll have some extra used fuel line soon.
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trip'n
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 7:57 pm    Post subject: i got mine here Reply with quote

http://www.oeveedub.com/
we left on a family trip....and i was searching for these.....rolling through colorado and darn if we didnt drive through the town...i recognized the name stopped at the local gas station and asked...she said turn around ...... yep there they is..
very nice ... helped me install them .... very cool shop
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campism
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

While bleeding the radiator this weekend after changing coolant (after having to pull the head after trying to replace the exhaust) I discovered four broken headlight adjusters. Three were the fixed “stud” ones and one was the screw-type adjuster and all were broken at the front small piece and not the larger rear plastic piece that holds the lights to the body. I had one so used that on the screw adjuster and figured I could come up with something to fix the rest. Here’s the remaining stud missing its little plastic piece.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Following the tips from others (thanks, Orbitald!) I used fuel line cut to 5/8” length to fit over the short (high-beam) studs on the bottom and 7/8” to fit over the long (low-beam) stud on the top. I then went to the hardware store and bought ¼” E-clips. By pressing the light frame back against the fuel hose I could slip the clip onto the stud and the springiness of the fuel hose would push the clip against the ball on the end of the stud, holding everything in place.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Here’s what I bought at Lowe’s.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
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vonkeswick
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:44 pm    Post subject: Re: Headlight adjusters Reply with quote

Wow I didn't realize how old this thread was, but figured I'd post if anyone else is still looking for factory headlight mounts. It appears most places are out of the high beam mounts, however Van Cafe in Santa Cruz just got some in! Just ordered mine Smile

http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/search?keywords=headlight+adjuster&x=0&y=0
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