Installing HID in fog lights...

You won't be disappointed.

 

Tory, would you happen to have some closeup photos of how the SS3 fogs sit in the housings? I'm just wondering what the finished product looks like up close, and what to expect after the installation.

If not, no biggie.

 

You're probably asking about the bezel gap at the top and bottom. It's normal. Consider that you need a gap in order to make the light adjustable. The stock lights have a domed lens that serves to fill this gap, but these lights have no use for that with their one piece optics.



Don't forget to aim them correctly. Park 25' from a wall on flat ground. Measure from ground to center of fog light (let's say it's 18"). Place a piece of tape on the wall 4" lower (in this example, it will be 14"). That's where you place the top edge of your fog light cutoff.

 

Thanks for the aiming info.

I wouldn't think a small gap would make much of a difference. I looked at my oem fogs, and there are places around the perimeter of the light where there are larger gaps than elsewhere around the light also. The oem light does not sit flush up against the housing either.

 

Received the DD SS3 fogs today. I have to say, these are some seriously well made light fixtures. You can see the outstanding design elements, plus the quality of the materials is very high. I can't wait to install these puppies. After checking out the mounting brackets, I now understand all the tips for aiming these - there's a fair amount of adjustability...

If they work as well as they look out of the box, I'd say they're worth every penny.

Next up - H9s in low beams.

 

Here's an aiming question - why couldn't one just mark on a wall at a shorter distance where the upper cutoff is for the oem fogs, then just match that with the SS3 cutoff?

 

How are you guys installing the SS3’s on the passenger side? Going up from underneath or in through the tire well?

 

Yes, you can do that as well. Just can't move the truck when you're doing the install. Also keep in mind that your light aim changes with lift, tires, load, etc. I like to load my truck with weight before aiming everything, because I'm usually loaded up with family, dogs, gear, etc. when I'm on long and lonely highways. It means I'm aimed a bit short for daily use but I spend most of my nights near streetlights anyway.

Undo a few fasteners for the wheelwell plastic in the front, then you can reach everything under the truck. You'll need to remove that funky splashguard over the passenger fog. I'm told it will fit over aftermarket fog lights, but I gave up as its such a bear to get back on. I'll revisit soon.

 

In reference to both questions - say you have a good place to do the 25' aiming method, not too far from the install location. If you leave the wheel well liner screws out, can you access the aiming bolts once the lights are mounted on the truck? I read your suggestion to tighten those pretty snug, then just move the lights up or down to aim, I just was wondering if those bolts can be reached at all once mounted on the truck...

I'm off work this Thursday, and plan to install these & the H9 bulbs then. I'll figure it out then, it's just nice to have as much information as possible going in.

 

I think the splash guard is there so you don’t spill on the fog light when filling the windshield washer fluid from above. So, if you’re careful when pouring fluid, the splash guard probably isn’t necessary.

I’d also be using dielectric grease on fog connections due to the possibility of them getting wet.

 

Don't bother. The best place to aim them is up front anyway. If they had retained the factory aiming screws it would be worth it for the incremental accuracy, but going back and forth between aiming and tightening would just be a pain. Also tightening the screws might rotate the light and mess up your aim anyway. I just tightened mine up very firmly, almost to where I couldn't move them. They haven't budged in 10K miles.

 

I realized after I posted last that the spot where I plan to install these will allow me to position the truck 25' from my work shed. I can simply park it there, do the install, then aim them correctly when it gets dark enough. I'll just leave it there 'til I'm done.

 

Writeup on the DD SS3 fogs here:

https://www.4runners.com/threads/glwood54-vs-stock-4r.12659/page-4#post-178717

 

Am I being a total kook by using my Baja design lights on the road at night?

 

Yes.

 

Are those the pro or the sport? I thought from reading around the sports at night weren’t a total d move, but the pros 100% are. But maybe both are.

 

Sport... they are pretty damn bright but damn they look good.

 

Both sport and pro are illegal to use on the street and extremely discourteous to other drivers.

This has less to do with the brightness and more to do with the fact that these lights do not have a legal pattern or cutoff. The SS3 pro fog lights by Diode Dynamics are brighter than either, but with an SAE compliant fog pattern they are legal to use on the road.

It's also worth pointing out that Baja Designs has their own SAE fog light that is street legal, but with a pattern that is dimmer and narrower than stock halogens, they're not worth buying.

 

They may look cool, but please be considerate to other drivers. Get a street-legal fog light if you want to use it on the road.

 

Ahh that’s what I was remembering it’s the diode dynamics

 

Basically, the Diode Dynamics are the brightest street legal aftermarket fog that you can get. If you want to run your fogs on the road, DD is the go-to.

 

You can still use the Bajadesigns fog lights on the roads if no cars are around you. I have a lot of backroads around me and when I had my Tacoma I had a led light bar I used all the time because of especially deer around my area big time. I’m planning on changing out my fog lights on my Pro. Probably going with bajadesigns since the diode are out of stock.

 

The same is true of any light I suppose.

Wouldn't recommend it or even call it an upgrade, unless you're just looking for bling. The Baja fogs are famously awful, even dimmer than factory halogen lights.



I recommend checking out the comparison thread on Tacomaworld before spending any money. Links to each light are at the top of the first thread.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-led-sae-j583-fog-pod-fog-light-review.554813/

 

Regarding the Baja’s, didn’t crash at some point say that even though they say they’re SAE compliant, they’re far from it? Maybe that was corrected with the new lens inserts. But I think I also read that the output is awful after the correction lenses were installed.

 

They were found to be non-compliant shortly after release. When notified they did a stop sale until they could figure out a fix. The fix was those goofy looking inserts. Frankly, the output and pattern was terrible before the fix, and now it's even worse (though at least legally compliant now). In my opinion they should have completely thrown the design in the trash and re-tooled a light worthy of the Baja Designs name, but then again I'm not in the business of making money from the uninformed. They're still selling this junk for $300-400 per set.

 

That’s why I’m not rushing in to change mine out. I have been checking all kinds of reviews on which way to go. If I have to wait I will wait till the diode are back in stock. Thanks for pic reviews.

 

They're perpetually on backorder because they're selling them faster than they can make them. My recommendation is to wait until a sale is announced (like black Friday etc.) and jump on them at a 15-20% discount. Then just wait it out. They're worth the wait.

 

Thank you, That was my plan if I go with diode wait till Black Friday. I got the tail in turn mod for the rear on Labor Day sale.