Brake Light: Do I need a lens or the whole asembly?

[magnj]

My car got hit a few weeks back and I just got the insurance check. A van backed into my drivers side rear, denting the fender panel and breaking the tail light. I want to stretch it as much as I can, I'm thinking I might be able to do the dent myself and obviously the light. What I'm wondering is whether or not I need the whole assembly. Could anyone show me or refer me to a picture of the underside of the lens or an exploded view of the light. If I don't have to buy the assembly I really don't want to...

 

[TRWXXA]

Remove the light assembly and look at it. Take out he rear interior trim , remove the bulb assemblies, and remove the nuts (6 of them) that hold the taillight assembly in. Remove the lens and inspect the housing.

If you need the whole taillight, good luck finding new OEM ones. The aftermarket ones aren't so great.

 

[magnj]

Ok, I didn't want to take it off if I didnt have to but its not that bad. 50resto has oems...

 

[corvetteguy]

got my 89 GT left tail
assy on ebay.

 

[GSP393]

Just pull off the busted lense to see if anything's messed up underneath. If it is, you can get them all day long at the junk yard.

 

[bullitstang1313]

50resto has the lens or the whole assembly. Just do like GSP393 said and then you can decide whether or not you need to replace the whole thing.

 

[magnj]

Ok, I'll check it out, I was just having a hard time distinguishing between which part was which while it is still on the car, but I'll figure it out.