Tahoe/Yukon Headlight Information Thread

[soulsea]

There are some other members who know where to get the 25W ballasts, I just don't know cause I've never used them.

 

[bacin87]

There are some other members who know where to get the 25W ballasts, I just don't know cause I've never used them.

how badly do you think the 35w will warp my housing on my fogs?

 

[soulsea]

I don't know of anyone who has run them on a regular basis that hasn't melted their housings.

 

[bacin87]

well damn.

 

[gfunko]

@soulsea, what are your thoughts on the LED bulbs that they sell on amazon, ebay, etc? I know I read somewhere on this forum that they are only good for emitting light but aren't engineered to project light? I had considered getting those as replacement for my fog lights for my nnbs Tahoe but after reading this thread and the previous statement, I am reconsidering and just leaving everything stock till I decide to jump on the retrofit wagon.

 

[madmanhiker]

whew... it took a while to read all of this and follow the links, but I have learned a ton. Very comprehensive, probably the most detailed explanation in one location I have ever come across! Thanks, this helped clear up a lot of confusion I had about the subject.

 

[YukonCrazy]

I would like to get a set of retro-fit headlights for my 2008 Yukon, but not sure where I should be looking.

 

[soulsea]

Contact JB ant blackflamecustoms.com.

Here's a recent thread on another member who did likewise: http://tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58393

 

[madmanhiker]

I would like to get a set of retro-fit headlights for my 2008 Yukon, but not sure where I should be looking.

Yes, Serge is spot on, and what I am getting is exactly what you are looking for. It costs a little more, but you will get professional optics and performance. The best part: It's a turn-key solution. They send you brand new complete headlights PnP. >>> which allows you to sell your OEM headlights you currently have to help recoup what you spend on the new ones. Quid pro Quo

This is what mine will look like (Yukon Denali housings):

Tell JB that I sent you.

--------------------------


For a regular Yukon (non-Denali) this is what BFC would build:

 

[soulsea]

Hey Robert, make sure you tell JB to use the same headlamps as the first pic above not the second. The one on top is a Denali headlamp the one on the bottom is regular Yukon headlamp ... the difference is the inside finish and the amber reflector style.

Conversely Scott has to get the one on the bottom.

That's of course if you want to stay consistent with you respective OEM setups, you can always use the other style if that's your preference.

 

[mike11747]

good write up

 

[jbuck07]

Great sticky. Definitely going to refer back to this later....


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[mkloppen]

Hi everyone. Just picked up a 2009 Yukon Denali and I want to update my headlights. I read this entire thread and it is a GREAT source of info.
One question, has any one purchased an "aftermarket" kit from Ebay and removed the projector assembly and replaced it with the RETRO-QUIK: SPYDER/SPEC-D LIGHTS from TRS?
Here is the links for the kit and the headlights I would like to get.
Thanks in advance for any info.

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/co...o-quik-system-spyder-spec-d.html#.VNP2Rp3F_zB

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/121556481854?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[soulsea]

Typically the 'projectors' in those types of housings are molded into the housing and aren't a separate part that can be simply removed. The only way to know what is in there is by either taking a chance and opening them up yourself or getting feedback from someone who has. You might want to give TRS a call and ask them if they have any experience with those particular housings.

The bigger problem you will have with those is the inferior type of led components they use as markers. They usually fail pretty quickly and are but impossible to replace without opening the housings, and even then you won't be able to fix them.

But I've been out of this game for a while so hopefully someone who has used them can chime in. That said, every instinct I have is to tell you to save your money and run away from those housings.

 

[stoner]

2001 Escalade to Denali

Will 2011 Escalade housings fit a 2011 Denali and are they any better ?

 

[SRTH8R]

No they won't fit. It would have been done by now it they did.

 

[jfondell]

I have a 2008 Denali and I need new housings. Does anyone have recommendations? I don't feel the need to upgrade to HID at this point. I tried the polish and repair but that didn't work. I was thinking these.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Fits-...iter_Display:6.2L&hash=item542383c7c4&vxp=mtr

 

[goomashoom]

Many, many thanks to soulsea on a superb writeup on HID headlights. It was extremely thorough and answered all my questions.

Two weeks ago I bought a set of Depo headlights for my NBS '03 Suburban 2500…
http://www.amazon.com/Depo-335-1119...sr=8-1&keywords=black+depo+headlight+suburban

I thought I would be able to drop in a set of 9006 Morimoto Elite HIDs…
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/hid-systems/morimoto-elite-hid-system-9006.html#.VfqSaCQro7Q

One week ago, I was on the TRS website and found the Retro-Quick product line. I immediately boxed up my Depo headlights and made plans to buy some SPEC-D headlights and the SPEC-D Retro-Quick kit...

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Silvera...2&sr=8-11&keywords=spec-d+suburban+headlights

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/co...to-retro-quik-system-spec-d.html#.VfqWBGRVhBc

However, after finding and reading this thread last night, I have concluded that I should stick with the Depo headlights because (1) the Morimoto H1 "has the shortest 'throw' according to soulsea, (2) soulsea commented on 2-5-2015 that his instinct is not to trust these SPEC-D housings, and (3) the general consensus seems to be that the Depo housings "take well to HID bulbs" in NBS trucks. I am also not a big fan of the gimmicky LED lights and angel eyes on the SPEC-D housings.

I was wondering what 9006 HID kits folks have had success with in Depo headlights for NBS trucks? I am fully prepared to pay for quality as my overriding priority is superior headlight performance. I don't care about looks. I'm planning to get 4500k because I think that gets me the highest lumens. I'm leaning towards the 9006 Morimoto Elite HID System.

 

[Wake]

I have a 2008 Denali and I need new housings. Does anyone have recommendations? I don't feel the need to upgrade to HID at this point. I tried the polish and repair but that didn't work. I was thinking these.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Fits-...iter_Display:6.2L&hash=item542383c7c4&vxp=mtr

How did you try to polish the original set? Was it just polish or did you wet sand them also?

I had some very yellow lenses on my Audi but at near $1K a piece for replacement OEM I decided I didn't have much to lose by trying the wet sanding technique. I spent about 20 minutes wet sanding them with 600, 800, 1500 grit then I used rubbing compound for about another 30 minutes. I was pretty sore the day after but the lenses looked like new when I finished. I waxed them and will likely polish them again a final time and paint over them with clear coat to make the refurb more permanent.

I'm very leery of aftermarket headlight housings. I purchased a set for my roommate's Chrysler and the replacements were junk, very poor light focus and the adjusters are fragile.

 

[onos86]

So in my 09 Yukon I have a DDM tuning hid kit in, am tired of the issues with them and wanting to go back to halogen just not sure what bulbs I should get it I should go with a generic bulb or wha... I went with the hids to begin with because I found the OEM bulbs that my Yukon had in it when I bought it weren't near bright enough and the difference between high and low beam to be minimal (I know not to expect to much difference being a single bulb but still) anyways where I live my options are limited to Canadian tire, lordco, or Walmart. Thanks in advanced