Found a bunch of threads, but on 56k so it will take forever to find the best way to do it.

Need to know the best way to open up the headlight housings without ruining them.


For those wondering why I'm asking, I'm having the Chromed inners of my Headlights on my S4 as well as Emblems, Mouldings, and wheels Black Chromed and cleared.

Pic:

Big Pic: http://www.imagestation.com/pi...g.jpg

 

dont know if it will wok with your audi mike, but my brother and his buddy baked his STi headlights in the oven on low to remove and reinstall the seals...good luck

ps-i didnt like the idea, but they came out perfect...go figure

 

Ok so how do people go about baking their lights? I know I'm a noob

Do you have to put them on anything special? on the oven rack, on a backing sheet? Lowest temp possible? Do you have to use a gas oven or will electric work?

 

i'll see my bro tonight and ask him, but i'm hoping more experienced members will chime in before then...maybe you can skim thru a subie website today, as i'm sure other people with wrxs have done it...

 

bake @250 for 5 minutes that is more than enough to loosen the seals. pop off the metal tabs first before you throw them on the oven.

 

i did it on my civic, i put it in the oven at 275 for about 10 minutes, make sure you put it on a pan or something otherwise the bottom of the head light will melt, then take it out of the oven and pry it open, when you go to reseal them you may have to put it in the oven again to get the glue tacky becuase if it dries you wont be able to fit the housing back together, then seal it with some caulk.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2ndchancehonda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i did it on my civic, i put it in the oven at 275 for about 10 minutes, </TD></TR></TABLE>
over kill bro.

 

The way I have always heard it done is:

Turn on oven around 275-300 degrees....I placed my corners on a cookie sheet and left them in for about 4-5 minutes. A electric oven will work ok.

I would recommend checking your lights every couple of minutes they will be hot so use some gloves or an oven mitt . The headlight should either pull apart or some have latches (built into the headlight) me and my friend did it on his 2002 WRX and used a screwdriver and a heat gun

You will want to do 1 headlamp at a time because thats all you can work on at a time, unless you have buddies over .

After painting and everything put pieces back in over or reheat for a few and put them back together; try and reuse the old silicon and if needed use a little extra via some bought at a hardware store (comes in clear or black).

Reinstall and done

 

Now will the glue dry if the headlamp is left apart for say 1-2 weeks? will that effect it's ability to stick back together?

Also I was thinking this might be a good idea to keep heat from building up between the pan and baking sheet: Use some crumpled up pieces of aluminum foil between the headlight and baking sheet.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mike M &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Now will the glue dry if the headlamp is left apart for say 1-2 weeks? will that effect it's ability to stick back together?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

It shouldn't since its silicone...it can be reheated and cooled.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mike M &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also I was thinking this might be a good idea to keep heat from building up between the pan and baking sheet: Use some crumpled up pieces of aluminum foil between the headlight and baking sheet.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sounds like a good idea, but either way should work

 

Cool, thanks for the responses I'll have to try this out on a set of old lights.

Now if I could only find a Chrome plater who does black chrome and doesn't have a 1-2 month wait

 

You could always visit your local junkyard for a set of "practice" sealed beam headlamps...and try it out. Once you have done it, it gets easier, just be patient and take your time

 

SEARCH there are a million posts on it!

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=753457

 

Heat gun.

 

I hate you.

*bows down to the s4*

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 137 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I hate you.

*bows down to the s4*</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL it's ok, I'm still trying to find a place that will do all the parts in Black Chrome for me, I'm calling #16 so far and all I have found is 1 place in CA that can do all the work but it's about $2000 worth.

Black Chrome on the Nogaro Blue will look nice though