TRS Tips: How to Adjust Headlights for the Perfect Aim!

No matter how easy modern headlight replacement kits make installation, there are a few critical skills every do-it-yourselfer needs to know — such as how to aim headlights. Once your retrofit is complete, you'll almost always find that the beam pattern needs to be adjusted. Whether you’re wondering what’s the proper headlight adjustment height for your truck or what’s the optimal car headlight beam pattern, a little knowledge can go a long way.

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Watch the video for tips on how to adjust projector headlights, and read on as we go over a few important points of reference to make sure your newly retrofitted headlights are aimed just right!

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Getting Started

There are a few simple tools you’ll typically require to complete a DIY headlight alignment. Before we start our tutorial on how to adjust projector headlights, make sure you have some masking tape, a tape measure, and a screwdriver or socket wrench handy.

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Aiming Height

Adjusting headlight height to the optimal level is the first step to improving visibility, beam quality, and on-road safety. Parked 25 feet away from a wall, the upper cutoff line of the headlight beam should be just underneath the side view mirrors of an average passenger vehicle. This will ensure maximum distance lighting without being too high, thus risking glaring oncoming traffic.

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Setting Side to Side

The second most critical action in learning how to adjust projector headlights is making sure both sides are properly aimed and balanced. Squarely park 25 feet away from a wall with a clean visible surface. Measure the distance between the two projectors on the front of your vehicle, and ensure that the distance between the steps in the beam pattern on the wall matches that. The center point between the beam's steps should match the center point between the projectors. This will ensure maximum width, without compromising any intensity in the center. It will also give you more distance on your side of the road while cutting the light on the side of oncoming traffic (due to the rising shape of the beam).

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Ask the Experts

Learning how to align headlights yourself is another important, yet easy-to-master skill for the DIY retrofitter. If after watching this video you’re still unsure about how to aim the projector headlights you purchased from TRS, let us know, and we’ll be happy to help. As the leading source for premium automotive lighting on the internet, we offer our customers additional installation instructions and resources as well as technical support from knowledgeable live representatives. We’re real auto enthusiasts who use these products on the vehicles we own, and we are experienced at adjusting the headlight aim for virtually any application.

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Need help picking our parts for your next headlight upgrade? We can help! Our customer service team is full of headlight junkies and can help you choose the perfect parts for your build.
You can reach us by phone, or email!

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Want to see the dopest headlights around? Follow us on social media!

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Other videos we recommend watching

[dankisch]

I used this video 4 years ago for aligning my car headlights and was shocked initially how far my headlights lit the road right after the procedure (yes, my headlights were a mess before that). I was worried as there was just no way that could be ok with oncoming drivers. Yet not a single driver ever signaled me for getting blinded for all those 4 years. Thank you!

[Philiopantheon]

Very practical and short video without over complications, thanks mate!

[jorben]

I started aiming my lights while watching this, next thing you know im on the freeway.

[abelcatalan]

I am doing the retrofit for my first time, and I want to learn everything about it, so this it’s a good tip

[susheelIndian]

This is the best precise way ever told by anyone on YouTube 👍

[daddymikrut]

Did you just drive off without finishing your explanation?? You must know my wife!!

[Dragon-blgi]

Best advice ever. Great tips and tricks. Thank you. Fantastic straight to the point and very clear on instructions. Thank you

[r_s]

You made it look easy. I'm having a hard time getting my lights to move side to side...but thanks for the video.

[rudranilchakraborty]

My low beam aligned perfectly, but when I cut off my high beam of right projector gone too up please help me

[MrLaloman]

Bought a Morimoto B35 Xenon kit with H7 5, 500k pure white bulbs from some guy for only $40 with the hardness and in excellent condition... Let me tell you, Morimoto are the top notch BEST! At only 35w these xenon light output is very bright as hell and very sharp. No need for the 55w kit.... This is enough power to see bright, clearly and fart away! Worth as the quality is the best!

[mikenc]

When measuring front of vehicle, it looks like you are measuring from outside to outside of each headlight, but when marking on the wall, it looks like you are marking inside dimension or maybe center point?  Which is it?  Thanks!

[ismaelanciado]

I was lil bit confuse when you adjust the right headlight the left pattern moves

[rxbkrs]

Hi. At minute 1:48, how many inches from the ground is the cutoff light beam (particularly from blue tape on the left side)?

[jerrywilson]

No video on side x side for 2014 GMC Sierra that I can find (not the only one looking ) up & down is easy ...Thanks

[Astronetics]

Matt, it's great to see you guys are on Youtube. Of the years and years I've known about you, I never thought to look on Youtube! I'm still waiting for you guys to come up with some kit for MKV Jettas! ;)

[matto]

Can I put LEDs in my projector housing??

[erickruiz-hlvs]

My passenger side is slightly above the driver side. I’ve tried shimming the bulb, but still looks off. What else can I try to get them lined up?

[josephraines]

I have an 03 Dodge 1500 and the adjustment he showed does side to side. There is one on the bottom to do the up and down. Just found this out. Had to remove the whole ass'y to replace a turn signal and there it was. :-D

[bjgonzalespovs]

My screw adjusters for left and right adjustement is not working anymore, everytime i turn the screws it snaps like the projectors don't want to follow the adjuster. I think i over twist the screw before.

[MiguelLopez-rubc]

How could I just it the the screws are already striped doesn't adjust ?