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Rear light angles
jon200 - 14/4/22 at 08:26 PM

A friend pointed out that my rear lights are a bit dim. They aren't but its because they point upwards slightly due to the angle of the rear arch. They need to be 90 degrees to the road. Is there any way to do this with some round bases? I cant add a picture but they are similar to these..
https://m.trucks.autodoc.co.uk/hella/934834?gshp=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjN-SBhCkARIsACsrBz4ERXJhFrOciHnOV6s76gCSteOFv7aFr-FGQxbwYsseDyf-bJnqPnka AtFVEALw_wcB

[Edited on 14/4/22 by jon200]


SteveWalker - 14/4/22 at 08:50 PM

Use a plantpot as a mould to make glass-fibre, wedge shaped supports?


jon200 - 14/4/22 at 09:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by SteveWalker
Use a plantpot as a mould to make glass-fibre, wedge shaped supports?


Ive not done much with fibreglass, would i need a sheet of it with resin? Will have a look to see if there is a vid on youtube for guidance. Thanks.


myke pocock - 14/4/22 at 11:02 PM

How about getting one vacuum formed? I did that for my fog light. Get a mould turned up on a lathe in MDF then see if your local secondary school has a vacuum former. Bit easier than fibreglass.


voucht - 15/4/22 at 01:09 AM

PVC plumber tube cut at the right angle as an interface between your rear arch and your rear light.

Or, and it is certainly the neatest and easiest solution : drawing the spacer you need and have it 3D printed.

Hope that will help


Schrodinger - 15/4/22 at 06:49 AM

I thought it was only the fog light that had to be at 90 degrees to the road.


jelly head - 15/4/22 at 07:05 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Schrodinger
I thought it was only the fog light that had to be at 90 degrees to the road.


^^ Me too


Slimy38 - 15/4/22 at 07:29 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Schrodinger
I thought it was only the fog light that had to be at 90 degrees to the road.


This doesn't sound like a legal thing, this is 'my lights are too dim and I want to be considerate to other road users' thing.


Sanzomat - 15/4/22 at 08:42 AM

Looking at the dimensions from the link you provided, overall 115mm and a slightly tapered body. That would be pretty much perfect to slip inside a bit of soil and vent pipe and as they are available in black I think that is the way I'd be going for a simple solution. Cut the pipe square at the lamp end and tapered to suit the body angle, slip the light inside the pipe. The same bolts might need extending but should clamp the pipe in place.

In fact, you might even get two out of one coupler like this pipe coupler


gremlin1234 - 15/4/22 at 11:27 AM

I am surprised no one has yet suggested 3D print


SteveWalker - 15/4/22 at 11:44 AM

quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
I am surprised no one has yet suggested 3D print


voucht did.


gremlin1234 - 15/4/22 at 12:17 PM

quote:
Originally posted by SteveWalker
quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
I am surprised no one has yet suggested 3D print


voucht did.

ah missed that, thanks.


nick205 - 16/4/22 at 06:55 AM

From memory on my MK Indy the rear arch lights I was able to fit near enough 90 degrees using the almost 90 degrees section of the MK rear arches.


Fog light came with an adjustable fitting bracket to get a perfect 90 degrees (SVA requirement).

Number plate lamp wasn't 90 degrees, but lit the rear plate fine.


In your case if the car's been SVA/IVA'd then the lights must be OK. If you want to alter the angle you could fabricate a mount from some sheet Ally bent in an angle.


jon200 - 19/4/22 at 02:54 PM

Thats for the replies, its mote so i dont get rear ended tbh. 3d printing is an option actually. My friend might be able to do something with a drawing. I hadnt thought about soil pipe! Thats a good one 👍 there are a few pods on eBay too now i know they are called pods!


John Stones - 3/6/22 at 02:57 PM

if your lights are round then car builder solutions offer a 125mm dia housing that can be cut to suit.
see p242. then p466 for best way to cut the angle required


40inches - 4/6/22 at 10:59 AM

https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/mounting-hardware


Mr Whippy - 4/6/22 at 02:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jon200
Thats for the replies, its mote so i dont get rear ended tbh. 3d printing is an option actually. My friend might be able to do something with a drawing. I hadnt thought about soil pipe! Thats a good one 👍 there are a few pods on eBay too now i know they are called pods!


for 3d printed ones,design them on tinkercad, super simple to use and free web based, make them about 30% infill and they'll be strong and light. You could design them yourself and send your friend the stl file.


Slimy38 - 5/6/22 at 08:27 AM

quote:
Originally posted by jon200
Thats for the replies, its mote so i dont get rear ended tbh. 3d printing is an option actually. My friend might be able to do something with a drawing. I hadnt thought about soil pipe! Thats a good one 👍 there are a few pods on eBay too now i know they are called pods!


Make sure you don't use PLA, it's not stable enough particularly in heat. It doesn't take much to have them deform. I use PETG or ABS for car parts. Also remember that 3D prints are rarely watertight, but I suspect your rear lights are already designed to be watertight units without having to rely on anything else.