Headlight Recalibration

[BroncoGuy]

Hey all. I’m about to add a 2.5” rough country level lift. To all that have done this. Did you need recalibrate your headlights?

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[Alaska Steve]

I thought I read somewhere on Fords' website that the projector headlights on the Lariat and Raptor are self-leveling. I think that's why they go through a self test every time the headlights are turned on. I could be wrong, but that's what I recall.

 

[36Vegas]

The 2024 Ranger Raptor headlights self level every time you turn the them on. I just installed 2.5" front shock spacers. Headlights are fine

 

[Truckin]

Weird that some reported yes you do need to adjust and others say no.
my 23 150 tremor auto level did not. Time will tell when my ranger gets leveled

 

[stemplar]

Self levelling is for when you have a load in the bed or on the hitch so that the temporary squat doesn't make your headlights point up too high. Lifting the whole front end changes where your headlights point (just the y-axis, obviously), even after self-levelling so you should absolutely recalibrate or re-aim them so as to not blind oncoming traffic.

 

[36Vegas]

No need to. Headlights level out.

 

[Truckin]

Self levelling is for when you have a load in the bed or on the hitch so that the temporary squat doesn't make your headlights point up too high. Lifting the whole front end changes where your headlights point (just the y-axis, obviously), even after self-levelling so you should absolutely recalibrate or re-aim them so as to not blind oncoming traffic.

Can’t vouch for leveling yet but they do change while driving. We have a stoplight on a hill and while driving slow the lights should have pointed up. Nope, they lowered as I drove up, had a clean line of light shining on car in fronts trunk.
there are sensors near each shock that compensate

 

[Alaska Steve]

Weird that some reported yes you do need to adjust and others say no.
my 23 150 tremor auto level did not. Time will tell when my ranger gets leveled

The LED lights on the XL and XLT need to be adjusted after leveling or a suspension lift.

 

[scrappyisbe]

Self levelling is for when you have a load in the bed or on the hitch so that the temporary squat doesn't make your headlights point up too high. Lifting the whole front end changes where your headlights point (just the y-axis, obviously), even after self-levelling so you should absolutely recalibrate or re-aim them so as to not blind oncoming traffic.

Wit the auto leveling it does not need re-aimed. Mine is leveled and not adjusted. The level works off suspension height sensors so with the lift spacers the lights think the truck is "loaded" and they aim down. The only reason I could see to adjust the aim is if the truck runs out of auto down light adjustment when actually loaded with the spacers.

 

[stemplar]

Wit the auto leveling it does not need re-aimed. Mine is leveled and not adjusted. The level works off suspension height sensors so with the lift spacers the lights think the truck is "loaded" and they aim down. The only reason I could see to adjust the aim is if the truck runs out of auto down light adjustment when actually loaded with the spacers.

The way it was explained to me by a body shop owner is this: stand 30’ from someone and hold a flashlight at waist height pointing in the other person’s direction. Use a bubble level to assure that the light isn’t pointed up or down, but is indeed parallel with the floor. That person will not be blinded. Now hold that light at shoulder height and use the bubble level to assure it’s level. The other person is now blinded. The auto level in our trucks is like that bubble level, and the suspension lift is like where we hold the flashlight. Change the suspension setup and geometry and we need to repoint our headlights, while the auto level will help keep our headlights pointed where they were adjusted to despite whatever load we’re carrying.

 

[Truckin]

The way it was explained to me by a body shop owner is this: stand 30’ from someone and hold a flashlight at waist height pointing in the other person’s direction. Use a bubble level to assure that the light isn’t pointed up or down, but is indeed parallel with the floor. That person will not be blinded. Now hold that light at shoulder height and use the bubble level to assure it’s level. The other person is now blinded. The auto level in our trucks is like that bubble level, and the suspension lift is like where we hold the flashlight. Change the suspension setup and geometry and we need to repoint our headlights, while the auto level will help keep our headlights pointed where they were adjusted to despite whatever load we’re carrying.

Your manager is not correct it’s 25’
FYI, roads and shops have pitched slops for drainage so it’s rare to find a flat 25’. True way to do this is with a laser level https://www.wikihow.com/Adjust-Car-Headlights

 

[stemplar]

Your manager is not correct it’s 25’
FYI, roads and shops have pitched slops for drainage so it’s rare to find a flat 25’. True way to do this is with a laser level https://www.wikihow.com/Adjust-Car-Headlights

Thanks, but he just explained that scenario to illustrate why headlight aiming and alignment are different than levelling and why changing the resting height affects aiming and alignment. He don’t suggest using the 30’ measurement to actually aim or calibrate the headlights.

 

[harper7]

Here is the headlight aiming/adjustment check straight from the Ford Ranger manual ,pages 416-417. They appear to auto level to a setpoint set by the factory. Lifting the front to level will most likely change that setpoint by a little .

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