Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated.

Go Back   Australian Ford Forums > General Topics > The Pub

The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-08-2016, 08:26 PM   #1
Tonz
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Pt Lincoln far side South Oz
Posts: 5,933
Default Headlight restoring

Seen this product advertised for restoring faded headlight glass/plastic...is it really worthwhile
__________________
Dont p i s s off older people. At our age the term Life in Prison is not a deterrent
Tonz is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 05-08-2016, 08:31 PM   #2
BradEL
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
BradEL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: N.Z
Posts: 866
Default Re: Headlight restoring

I was doing professional headlight restoration as a job for a while in the past, and there is nothing that will permenantly fix the typical yellowing/crazing/cloudiness unless you completely sand the whole surface of the headlight right back, so all the old UV coating and damage has been removed, and then go through a sanding process from coarse to ultra fine, and then recoat the headlight surface in a UV headlight clear the same as what the manufacturers use.
Hope this helps, if you have any other questions happy to help
BradEL is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
3 users like this post:
Old 05-08-2016, 08:40 PM   #3
Qwerty321
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Qwerty321's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Posts: 572
Default Re: Headlight restoring

If it's the CRC Headlight Doctor that you get from Supercheap then the answer is YES YES YES!

I used this stuff on my old Lexus' headlights and they worked a charm. I spent about 30 minutes rubbing away with a microfibre cloth and it came out amazing, went from Yellow to effectively brand new. The key word is effectively though, if you look close enough it wont be the same as a new headlight. If I could put it into words I'd say that the CRC stuff makes your headlight look 90% brand new, the last 10% you can only really gain by replacing it with brand new ones or spending a weekend sanding down and doing the process mentioned by Brad.

Personally, the best $20 I ever spent tbh.
__________________
Project/Fun Car - BA MkII Fairlane Ghia
Daily Driver - Volvo V50 2.4

"If in doubt, flat out" - Colin McRae
"Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall. Torque is how far you take the wall with you"
"Cheap, fast and reliable. Pick Two"

Qwerty321 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
2 users like this post:
Old 06-08-2016, 01:10 PM   #4
Matty4
Banana
 
Matty4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Wandin North, VIC
Posts: 2,031
Default Re: Headlight restoring

I've done a few sets in my time and depending on the severity of the yellowing start wet sanding the lense with 1000, then 1500, then 2000 before a quick polish using a course polishing compound. Then you'll need a UV coating over that.

Or you could just watch this..
https://youtu.be/GVlM3cAVrEk
__________________
2024 Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6 w/PP
2012 WK2 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland CRD
Matty4 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
This user likes this post:
Old 06-08-2016, 03:37 PM   #5
nifty nevnker
Starter Motor
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10
Default Re: Headlight restoring

Discovered quick way to rejuvenate headlights just use me meguairs scratch remover polished up a treat
nifty nevnker is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 06-08-2016, 06:01 PM   #6
OzriderXR8
Regular Member
 
OzriderXR8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: West of Melbourne
Posts: 488
Default Re: Headlight restoring

I had to do the lights on my 4x4 for a RWC to sell, sanded and polished to get most of it done then discovered Autosol works like a miracle paste.
__________________
Cheers Ozrider

AUII XR8 200KW
FG MK2 XR6
Mini 850
Rover P5 3 Litre Mk1
OzriderXR8 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 07-08-2016, 08:24 AM   #7
roddy1960
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
roddy1960's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St Marys Tasmania
Posts: 3,556
Default Re: Headlight restoring

G'day...A couple of years ago I began to think it was about time to do something about my yellowing AU ll headlights...Thought to myself "Might buy some new ones"...Geez...I was quoted over $500 for the pair for genuine units..I think delivered it was $540...and strangely one was more expensive than the other.
I got on You Tube and found a heap of vids on restoring lights..Tons of good tips , some mentioned here already including wet sanding etc.. A good friend is an old English car restorer and was talking to him about it..He asked me if I had any Car cutting compound..I told him that I didn't.."I do " he said...A few minutes later we were restoring my headlights to near new look. The transformation was amazing..Just doing a small area at a time cleared them up a treat. Whole job took 20 minutes..They've lasted well and every few months I give them a quick 'refresh' to keep them clear ..The only time I'd buy new headlights now is if they were actually cracked or broken. A bloke at work has a Subaru Forester with super yellow headlights so I showed him the the cutting compound fix a few weeks ago..He was amazed too..Cheers Rod...
roddy1960 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 07-08-2016, 08:31 AM   #8
supershifty
Missing a sock...
Donating Member3
 
supershifty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Brisbane 4017
Posts: 8,250
Valued Contributor: For members whose non technical contributions are worthy of recognition. - Issue reason: Dave has been a long time active member on the forums and in particular has been a busy volunteer whenever there are cruises and toys runs etc held in South East Qld. He actively gives up his time and ensures that the events are provided for, be it commun 
Default Re: Headlight restoring

These posts might give you some help, I still have to give mine a touch up occasionally - XH ute.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11366745

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11374684

Cheers!
__________________

Real friends + great times = sheer bliss!

Considering becoming an organ donor? Click here

QLD Events, Cruises and Get Togethers: Click here

Gain success instantly - lower your standards.

It's not government funded - it's taxpayer funded.
supershifty is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Reply


Forum Jump


All times are GMT +11. The time now is 06:15 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Other than what is legally copyrighted by the respective owners, this site is copyright www.fordforums.com.au
Positive SSL