- Joined
- March 29, 2015
- Messages
- 566
- Reaction score
- 292
- City, State
- Orangevale, California
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2015 Ford Explorer Sport
Diode Dynamics SS3 Pro Foglights Install
I did this mod some time ago, but just now getting to do the write up for it.
So I always wanted to have better lighting on this vehicle and went to HIDs years ago. Lately LED technology has been getting better so figured I'd try out what was on the market. I wanted to stay away from cheap overseas kits found on places like eBay. Did some research and learned about Diode Dynamics (Automotive LED Replacement Bulbs & Lighting Upgrades). Stuff is either made or assembled here in good ol' US of A.
Anyway, started out looking for foglight upgrades and I liked what they were offering with their SS3 Pro kit (Stage Series 3" SAE/DOT Type A Fog Light Kit). It's SAE/DOT legal so that's cool as well.
The kit required some changes as it wasn't plug-and-play (even though it was supposed to be listed for my application). They may now have what is needed though.
Finished installation:
The foglight bracket once removed:
LED housing installed into the bracket:
The issue came up when installing the bracket assembly back into the vehicle, it wouldn't seat properly. Here is how far the bracket is away from bolting up when the LED housing is installed:
There are 3 screws that hold the bracket in place. Here is what it looks like behind the bumper without the bracket (I put my ball cap in the opening so the glare from the sun wouldn't wash out the pic, LOL):
And here's one of the holes on the bracket:
Had to get creative so I found some old hardware and spacers in my bucket-o-spare-hardware, LOL:
Don't ask me where that spacer came from, but they are about 1/2" long to fill in the space needed. I had 6 of them, 3 for each side. Here is how it looks on the bracket:
And everything finally installed, now there is only a very small gap but I was okay with this:
Here is the look on and off:
I need to get some photos from the drivers viewpoint at night, but holy crap these things light up the road...WAY better than the stock fogs or the HIDs I had prior to these. Now I just wish there was some high end LEDs for the headlights that fit into our housing (I've tried a few sets and most won't actually fit properly)
I did this mod some time ago, but just now getting to do the write up for it.
So I always wanted to have better lighting on this vehicle and went to HIDs years ago. Lately LED technology has been getting better so figured I'd try out what was on the market. I wanted to stay away from cheap overseas kits found on places like eBay. Did some research and learned about Diode Dynamics (Automotive LED Replacement Bulbs & Lighting Upgrades). Stuff is either made or assembled here in good ol' US of A.
Anyway, started out looking for foglight upgrades and I liked what they were offering with their SS3 Pro kit (Stage Series 3" SAE/DOT Type A Fog Light Kit). It's SAE/DOT legal so that's cool as well.
The kit required some changes as it wasn't plug-and-play (even though it was supposed to be listed for my application). They may now have what is needed though.
Finished installation:
The foglight bracket once removed:
LED housing installed into the bracket:
The issue came up when installing the bracket assembly back into the vehicle, it wouldn't seat properly. Here is how far the bracket is away from bolting up when the LED housing is installed:
There are 3 screws that hold the bracket in place. Here is what it looks like behind the bumper without the bracket (I put my ball cap in the opening so the glare from the sun wouldn't wash out the pic, LOL):
And here's one of the holes on the bracket:
Had to get creative so I found some old hardware and spacers in my bucket-o-spare-hardware, LOL:
Don't ask me where that spacer came from, but they are about 1/2" long to fill in the space needed. I had 6 of them, 3 for each side. Here is how it looks on the bracket:
And everything finally installed, now there is only a very small gap but I was okay with this:
Here is the look on and off:
I need to get some photos from the drivers viewpoint at night, but holy crap these things light up the road...WAY better than the stock fogs or the HIDs I had prior to these. Now I just wish there was some high end LEDs for the headlights that fit into our housing (I've tried a few sets and most won't actually fit properly)