MTFCA Forum

I need to adjust my headlights upward. When using a plumb bob, they are about 1/4 out of adjustment. I know there is some special tool that Ford created to do bend that thick bar, but I don't have one. What have other done to adjust their headlights (up or down - not left/right) Thanks.

Is this the tool you were thinking about?

That's the one!!

Hello.
I also had mis-aligned headlights.

Of course, you can try to get this adjustment tool, but you can also use a cheaper method, actually doing the same:

I took this kind of wrench and extended it with a piece of pipe. Total cost for me: 0.00 $ because I had the wrench.

Simply attach it to the headlight rod, make it sit tight with handle pointing to the front, slide over a piece of steel pipe, and carefully bend... makes for sure fewer dents than this original tool. At my Lizzy even the black paint on the rod was not damaged.

Rainer

A large railway type adjustable wrench can also be used. Crescent wrenches will not allow you to fit them to get the correct angle to bend the stem.While a spirit level will help, the lights should really be set against a surface in front of the car.

Hope this helps,
Allan from down under.

As TRD’s post indicates, headlights are not adjusted with a plumb bob. That will tell you nothing. The headlights need to be aimed at a wall to see where the beam is focused.
You want to adjust the beam of light, not the physical head light assembly. Sometimes the two can be quite different.

Thanks for all the advice. I ended using an old 30 inch pipe wrench to adjust the headlights. I was able to get enough leverage to bend the bracket. I did end up with a couple of tiny paint scratches that were easily covered up with touch-up paint.