Resurfacing Head Lights is a PITA

usaf_branham · Jul 8, 2010

after 8 hours of sanding (by hand) with 1000 grit / 2000 grit / rubbing compound / polishing compound / and applying a new finish on them, I finally have good looking headlights again.

i really cant believe how much of a difference it made, it almost makes the car look brand new again. why do our cars have to have such issues with the head lights?! err... it was hard work, but it was definately worth it.

Deleted member 38176 · Jul 8, 2010

I was about to do the same with mine......until I wrecked my car and had brand new lights installed free of charge

darkside03gt · Jul 8, 2010

Next time try a mothers power ball. It makes the process go faster.

Stumbaugh · Jul 9, 2010

usaf_branham said:
after 8 hours of sanding (by hand) with 1000 grit / 2000 grit / rubbing compound / polishing compound / and applying a new finish on them, I finally have good looking headlights again.

i really cant believe how much of a difference it made, it almost makes the car look brand new again. why do our cars have to have such issues with the head lights?! err... it was hard work, but it was definately worth it.

PICS!!!

fast97gt · Jul 9, 2010

the material the lenses are made of whats known as plexi glass, tho it differs from poly carbonate 9which threy shouldve been made with that instead). poly carbonate is far superior because it un breakable and resists oxidation. over time the plastic oxidizes with the help of road grime, acids in the rain, and occasional hard water thats used to wash the car also uv rays from the sun turns it yellow. i did mine a year and a half ago, after i was done stood back and said "thats nice". the i got vct smoked tail lite spray from advance hit the tail lites and did 2 coates on the head lites, other than 1 small scratch (my kid hit it with her dora bouncy ball) they are still perfect. how is that you ask? well the paint is a protectant now so all the stuff that previously stated doestn get to the plastic in which the lense is made of.

VOORHEES · Jul 9, 2010

3m makes a kit that you can use with a drill. Took me about half hour per lense.

8hrs.....

patman0911 · Jul 9, 2010

Or, if you're gonna do it by hand, start with some lower grit sandpaper to speed up the cutting through the oxidized crap. Much faster to start low and work your way up then to try and remove a bunch of material with 1000 grit.

Deleted member 38176 · Jul 9, 2010

VOORHEES said:
3m makes a kit that you can use with a drill. Took me about half hour per lense.

8hrs.....

Thats the kit I had originally purchased. $35 at Walmart

Pearl02 · Jul 10, 2010

When you remove the head light's do you have to worry about refocusing them? I want to clean up my head lights and didn't know if they would be out of focus. Pearl02.

Deleted member 38176 · Jul 10, 2010

Pearl02 said:
When you remove the head light's do you have to worry about refocusing them? I want to clean up my head lights and didn't know if they would be out of focus. Pearl02.

Not at all.

Pearl02 · Jul 10, 2010

Nightfire said:
Not at all.

Thanks man. Pearl02

fast97gt · Jul 10, 2010

Nightfire said:
Thats the kit I had originally purchased. $35 at Walmart

yea there about $18+tax around these parts and work very well, its what i used.

68stang351 · Jul 10, 2010

With all the talk about fixing headlights, I decided to fix a pair for my 04. My factory ones are too far gone to repair, but I got a free set of 99-00 lights and with about 2 hours with the 10$ Turtle Wax kit, they look brand new. Next I'm going to spray them lightly with some nightshades and clear and then wet sand.

68stang351 · Jul 10, 2010

Here's a couple of one finished and one the way I got them.

And one of them both done. They actually look clearer in person than what it looks like in the pic.

txredgt · Jul 10, 2010

So after taking the various sandpaper to the lenses and the polishing compounds do you have to put anything else on them to seal the plastic up or make it somewhat resistant to the oxidation?

Skud · Jul 10, 2010

I used the 3M kit on my 2002 GT and I had mixed results. It's hard to get right to the edges and mine also had some good sized marks from rocks, etc.

I ended up just buying brand new ones from late modem restoration for ~$130 (for both). They come with new headlight and turn signal bulbs too.

Riley

SRT Handz · Jul 11, 2010

I dont think your headlights came out as clear as the ones I did....

68stang351 · Jul 12, 2010

SRT Handz said:
I dont think your headlights came out as clear as the ones I did....

I don't do this kind of thing all the time either. That's the first set I've done, and it was by hand.

They are little bit more clear than they look in the pics.

Come on dude, don't be a one upper.

BTW, your headlight threads are what made me decide to try it anyway.

Maxpowers · Jul 13, 2010

Not worth it all the time. The cracks were too deep and actually on the inside of the light. Picked up a new set with clear corners that looks much better IMO. Especially with the chrome coated turn signal bulb. Makes the front end look like pure sex.

N8Dogg98 · Jul 13, 2010

You may have had better luck if you'd have had a rotary and some good polishing compounds. Sanding only takes you so far, to get them perfect you need a machine. It will make a world of difference

Resurfacing Head Lights is a PITA

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