LED Headlights

[HeavyD1977]

The LED bulbs are designed with the cutoff not the housing.

Got it... that makes sense. Do you know if you need any special harnesses or anything or are these true plug and play? Wasn't sure if you need additional stuff that doesn't come with the bulbs since these trucks weren't originally designed for LED headlights. Thanks for the reply MS03!

 

[MS03 2500]

The bulbs that malbrecht1 used have a pigtail that plugs into the stock wiring, the ones I used have a ballast like a HID bulb

 

[MS03 2500]

Make sure you measure so you know they will fit, most led bulbs are longer than a stock bulb

 

[qreaigh]

Today I installed LED headlights I bought on Amazon and LED DRLs.

Stock halogen on the left. New LED on the right.

Both LED headlights and DRLs

Night shot

The light output is 5 times better than the halogens that we in it. I am amazed at the difference. I would recommend these to anyone. Next I have to find some LED fog lights to match the 6500k color.

Were you able to get the blinker out without breaking the plastic clips

 

[HeavyD1977]

Just wanted to update everybody... I purchased the same LED bulbs as the OP and installed them. I have an 02 1500 Avy and they fit just fine. A little tight but no huge clearance issues or anything. They are amazing! Can't believe the difference driving at night. I also have a 34" light bar on the front and honestly, I can't tell much difference between when it is on or off now. They do have a decent cut-off, so not blinding any other drivers either  I highly recommend these bulbs... now I need to do the brights as well because those puppies are dull!

 

[Hug_R_Av]

Were you able to get the blinker out without breaking the plastic clips

Best to do that when they are warm!! If they are cold they will snap for sure.
Even if you have to take a hair dryer or heat gun to them for a minute or two.

 

[redavyowner]

I saw the link for the headlight bulbs. Low beam-I think.
What did u end up matching them with for fog lights and high beams?

 

[malbrecht1]

Sorry all, been a while since I looked at this post.

I saw the link for the headlight bulbs. Low beam-I think.
What did u end up matching them with for fog lights and high beams?

I still have halogen high beams and fog lights. I just use LED low beam

 

[malbrecht1]

Best to do that when they are warm!! If they are cold they will snap for sure.
Even if you have to take a hair dryer or heat gun to them for a minute or two.

Mine ended up breaking. I glued them back together but only one held up. The other side broke when I installed it, so I justed used a small piece of duct tape to hold the turn signal assembly in.

 

[JohnnieMo]

Has anyone tried these bulbs in a 2nd Gen Avalanche?  I was looking at this one from SuperBrightLEDS or the referenced bulb by the OP.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/low-beam-headlight-bulb/led-headlight-kit-h11-led-headlight-bulbs-conversion-kit-with-compact-heat-sink/3924/8559/#tab/Overview

I did find the following note about the AuxBeams and I assume it is the same for the Superbright.

 

[JohnnieMo]

I did my own research and determined there is no way an aftermarket LED with a heatsink is ever going to fit in a 2nd Gen Avalanche.  The low beams have a cross member behind them, about 1/2" away.  It blocks any room for an aftermarket bulb.  $15 halogen for me!

 

[AirJunky]

Lost a headlight bulb tonight. Gonna be buyin me some LEDs.....nya nya nay nya

 

[AirJunky]

Got the new Auxbeam 9006s installed the other day. Kind of a pain in the ass because of the depth of the heat sink & fan on them. I had to grind out some of the plastic behind the headlights to get them to fit. And the space behind the high beams looks even tighter. They are nice and bright though, love how all the lines on the road and signs really stand out.

Has anyone ever installed the 9005 high beams in a 1st Gen WBH?

 

[grnxnam]

To everyone who says that LEDs blind you... do you seriously stare at oncoming headlights?  If so, that's not the fault of anyone who installs LEDs or HIDs.

 

[redheadedrod]

To everyone who says that LEDs blind you... do you seriously stare at oncoming headlights?  If so, that's not the fault of anyone who installs LEDs or HIDs.

With the glare from standard HID or LED bulbs you certainly don't have to stare into them. It is the same effect, only worse, of driving with your brights on.

Working Afternoons where I drive 40 miles 1 way to work and always driving home in the dark there is always some jerks driving with brights, leds or HIDs. Unless you close your eyes any vehicle with said headlight setup will blind you  if you are trying to watch the roads which is why they have laws against a driver failing to dim their lights. The police do pull over people in my area with bluish lighting or with lights of the type you get with LED/HID without projectors.

And for those that are super sensitive to light in the dark can be more strongly affected than others. With the area heavy with deer you HAVE to keep an eye on the road. Of course the Michigan State Police will suggest you close one eye so you can still see when the jerk passes.

It is stupid to think you have to stare into a bright light for it to blind you... When your traveling on an expressway and there is no lighting other than your headlights your eyes adjust to the darkness to see better. And when some jerk comes flying by with their brights or PNP LED or HID's you most certainly be blinded. If you cause an accident due to your lighting you can be charged for it too....  I have LED's in my fogs to help watch for the deer but LED's in fogs don't project very far...

 

[4x4dreamer]

To everyone who says that LEDs blind you... do you seriously stare at oncoming headlights?  If so, that's not the fault of anyone who installs LEDs or HIDs.

LED's in a non-projector housings don't seem to be any worse than the new linear LED headlights that are coming out in newer cars these days. I got the life blinded out of me by a Lexus with the linear LED headlights the other day.

I had HID's in my 02 and never got flashed.

 

[MS03 2500]

Some people just don't think that technology has changed since the 1980s.

If they don't adjust the lights  correctly they sure will blind ya.

 

[redheadedrod]

Some people just don't think that technology has changed since the 1980s.

If they don't the lights adjusted correctly they sure will blind ya.

LEDs have their own issues due to the design of them. In most stock reflector housings they are going to have hot spots and areas not lit up. There have been methods of trying to get the light more diffused but no one has come up with anything that works well. I can see this pretty well with my fog lights but they work for what I want. For LED's you really need a housing designed for them to prevent this stuff.

And as far as HID's go. They are popular because they will work in standard bulb housings because they work in the same manner. No hotspots like LED's do. but don't like being turned on and off a lot... Also been warned they can damage the chrome in some housings but don't know if that is just BS.

And saying you can just readjust your headlights to prevent this is not very accurate either. If you lower the headlights low enough to not blind anyone you generally are so low that they don't project as far as they should.

I get it, you want to be able to just throw bulbs in and go. But anyone that thinks they have been able to adjust the technology to make them work and be safe at this point are just fooling themselves and putting others in danger. We have some semi drivers in my area that have started going to HID's as well. I know there has been some movement to look into the brighter headlights such as those on some higher end cars that also blind oncoming drivers. But then again, autonomous cars are coming and this will all become a moot point once we no longer drive ourselves...

 

[MS03 2500]

You are still stuck in 1980.  Just saying LOL

 

[grnxnam]

I've had either LED or HID (in the standard, non HID/LED housing) in every vehicle I've owned since 2007. I can count on one hand the number of times I've been flashed for blinding oncoming traffic. A brighter, properly adjusted light will always be better than the crappy factory lights.

 

[Hug_R_Av]

Been a long time since the ?B? s have posted back to back.
Miss ya both. 

 

[MS03 2500]

Got the new Auxbeam 9006s installed the other day. Kind of a pain in the ass because of the depth of the heat sink & fan on them. I had to grind out some of the plastic behind the headlights to get them to fit. And the space behind the high beams looks even tighter. They are nice and bright though, love how all the lines on the road and signs really stand out.

Has anyone ever installed the 9005 high beams in a 1st Gen WBH?

How did you come out with your install.

 

[AirJunky]

How did you come out with your install.

Their bright enough to really highlight any lines on the road, signs or reflectors. Yet not so bad that oncoming cars are brighting me.
I did have to grind out some plastic behind the headlights to make room for the heat sink/fan. Not anything structural and no regrets.
Haven't done the highbeams yet. I'll take another look to see if there is enough room.

 

[MS03 2500]

Don't be afraid to drill a hole in the radiator support it is strong enough, just look behind it for anything in the way

 

[EMSDC]

Has anyone looked at the PIAA Stratos Blue 6000k bulb? The are fairly new and come in the H-11 size. Offered at Powerbulbs and ARE NOT street legal per the site. Thinking about purchasing!!