Do headlamps require adjusting after installing level kit

[Jason Godfrey]

Hi , 

I recently purchased a 2018 LTZ Silverado and got the 2.5in levelling kit. 

My dealership said no headlight adjustments are required is this true?

Does anyone have experience with this kit?

I've had a few on-coming vehicles flash me with brights and even myself I notice on-coming vehicle headlights are brighter .

Just curious what the consensus is - should I be getting my headlamps adjusted ?

 

Thx..

 

[rkj__]

If you raised the front of your vehicle 2.5", and maintained the rear height, your headlights are now aimed higher.  It's only a 1 degree angle, but it does make a difference for oncoming drivers.

 

I found I was getting flashed a lot at night with about 500 lb weighing down the rear of the truck.  I did not measure the sag, but it was probably only 1 - 1.5" if I were to guess.

 

I get flashed in my wife's stock Mini, with the OEM HIDs as well though.  Some drivers just get upset when they see bright headlights at night.

[ShubiSnax]

Yes, and yes. All it takes is a simple phillips head screwdriver. Pop the hood and there is a small hole above each headlight. On a level surface, park 25 ft from a wall. Your headlight beam cutoffs should be at least 2 inches below the height of your headlights. There is also a philips adjustment screw behind your fog lamps if you have them. Fog beam cutoffs should be 4 inches lower than fog lamps at 25 feet. 

[Largely Unknown]

It will take somewhere around 3-4 turns of the plastic adjustment screws.  It's a significant difference.  Dealers don't care about this, mine didn't adjust them either.  

 

Like rkj_ says, any modern vehicle will get flashed on a dark road these days from the privileged driving class we have now.  

 

I see a lot of pickups that have obviously had LED bulbs inserted to their stock reflectors, blasting light all the way into the tree tops, and can only wonder how much they get flashed!

[aseibel]

58 minutes ago, rkj__ said:

If you raised the front of your vehicle 2.5", and maintained the rear height, your headlights are now aimed higher.  It's only a 1 degree angle, but it does make a difference for oncoming drivers.

 

I found I was getting flashed a lot at night with about 500 lb weighing down the rear of the truck.  I did not measure the sag, but it was probably only 1 - 1.5" if I were to guess.

 

I get flashed in my wife's stock Mini, with the OEM HIDs as well though.  Some drivers just get upset when they see bright headlights at night.

Raising the front of the truck at all should lead responsible drivers to adjust the headlight aim.

These new lights are obnoxious for people below the cut-off line. For those that only ever drive a pick-up truck, you don't know what its like to sit in a car and have headlights piercing your eyes all the time. Any shop that said you don't need to adjust is completely wrong.

 

I had laser eye surgery a couple years ago. Ever since then I hate bright headlights. I don't know if the glare actually got worse because of the surgery, or if it just coincided with all these new lights being used. Either way it sucks driving at night when I see poorly aimed lights. So chalk me up on the the upset drivers list.

[aseibel]

57 minutes ago, Largely Unknown said:

Like rkj_ says, any modern vehicle will get flashed on a dark road these days from the privileged driving class we have now.  

Its pretty obvious if you pay attention to tell when a vehicle is going up a slight incline. Their headlight cut-off light goes higher in the air and everyone in front of them is blinded. At least that is usually only temporary and then their light spread goes back down below my windshield again. But if it doesn't ever go down and I can tell you're on flat ground, then you are the problem, not the "privileged driving class" who only expects to be able to see at night.

 

So many people don't understand that an onlooker who is below the cut-off line is experiencing the same light as if you had your high beams on. The modern low beams are just as bright below the cut-off line, they only limit light projected upward. 

[Largely Unknown]

Interesting, I didn't realize that the laser eye surgery caused a glare issue.  I often wondered about getting it for myself.

 

Well if it would make you feel so much more responsible, trade for a '15 or later F-150 with halogens like I had, you'll think you're about to crash at times due to the low output.  Unless they put gyros in the headlights to compensate to dips and bumps in the road, you may have to change your expectations.  When I encounter umcomfotably brighter oncoming headlights, I automatically look at the right edge line on the road, and try to fight my bug instincts to look straight into light.  

 

Edit comment added: I'll admit I don't drive a car and may not appreciate that point of view.

[diyer2]

Yes, adjust them.

Actually surprised you had to ask.

 

[damnthetorpedoes]

Yes, I adjusted mine after leveling. They were quite high after a 2" level. I like oncoming traffic to be able to see where they are going. I still need to adjust my fogs. 

[Baldhills]

Yes. It’s easy to do. Do everyone a favor and adjust them properly.


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[Baldhills]

Your Dealership like mine didn’t want to do it. They actually told me to go to a body shop to get it done. Said they had no way to do it.
This was after getting my left side light assembly replaced under warranty.
Then they wonder why we don’t like dealers.


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[temmons]

On 10/29/2018 at 9:54 AM, diyer2 said:

Yes, adjust them.

Actually surprised you had to ask.

 

diyer2, not everyone knows it all like you do, that was actually a pretty rude comment. The guy is only going off of what the dealer informed him of. Being in the automotive business, we try to remember not everyone knows about cars and we want them to ask questions.

[diyer2]

9 minutes ago, temmons said:

diyer2, not everyone knows it all like you do, that was actually a pretty rude comment. The guy is only going off of what the dealer informed him of. Being in the automotive business, we try to remember not everyone knows about cars and we want them to ask questions.

I didn't think it was rude.

I don't know everything.

I thought it was common sense thing.

 

 

[temmons]

What may be common sense to you or I isn't always common sense to the next person. And here is something for you, I put a leveling kit on my 18 Silverado and the headlight position is fine. My guess is they weren't adjusted correctly at the factory.