73 front parking lamp bucket socket replacement

[Dougs Beast]

Has anyone replace their lamp sockets with new ones and where do I find them? Will they fit exact as I heard the replacements might be a.little smaller and would have to glue them in place. Want to keep the original buckets but sockets rusted inside, pins and springs broken.

 

[bronconut73]

All the vendors sell the whole assembly pretty cheap.
It was 15 years ago but I believe a hundred dollar bill was more than enough to ship both with lenses and bulbs.

 

[Dougs Beast]

Do not need the entire assembly just the bulb socket as to utilize my existing buckets and lenses.

 

[bronconut73]

Check WH. They have alot of individual parts. JBG does too.
But you may have to get them on the phone. They both have used stuff too.
Ofcourse Toms has used stuff as well if you have to go that route.

 

[Viperwolf1]

If you get the complete assembly be advised that the wires may be backwards. Seems to happen a lot.

 

[ScanmanSteven]

I just bought 2 today from Car Parts for about 5.95ea. They are just a tad smaller, I installed them from the front rather than from behind. A small dimple would make them tight.

 

[larryejoh]

I have the part number at home but O'Reilly's sales them. They are replacement two contact sockets made by Dorman. I took the two wires and contacts with the new springs and even the fiber insulator out of the new socket and replaced all the old parts in the stock socket. You have to cut the black plastic from the back of the old socket to get to the wires.

 

[DirtDonk]

If you get the complete assembly be advised that the wires may be backwards. Seems to happen a lot.

We've called the manufacturer, but they seem to think it's not an issue with their stuff.
So we remove each and every one from the box and reverse the contacts in the sockets. Then we test each one by plugging it into Johnny's Bronco and turn the running lights and turn signals on.

We don't sell the socket alone Doug, but you can purchase that individual piece from any well stocked local auto parts store.
It's then up to you to de-solder, remove, then replace and re-solder the new one in place.
Not worth it in my opinion, but definitely cheaper.

Paul

 

[Viperwolf1]

We've called the manufacturer, but they seem to think it's not an issue with their stuff.
So we remove each and every one from the box and reverse the contacts in the sockets. Then we test each one by plugging it into Johnny's Bronco and turn the running lights and turn signals on.

I bet if you guys started buying from another manufacturer they would think it's an issue.

 

[bknbronco]

I threw mine away and bought some very nice used ones from a guy on here for like $20. If it were me id find some better condition used ones or just get some new ones. By the time you blast and repaint the inside white and the outside black and replace the socket, and gasket you might as well have bought 2 brand new ones. Im a fan of rebuilding things myself but sometimes its easyer ad quicker to swap in some new parts.....as long as they actually fit.

This time around I recommend some bulb grease or dielectric grease on the bulb and socket.

 

[Dougs Beast]

Thank you all for your good info but its not the issue of being cheap, it's keeping the original good condition parts and repairing them. I have a barn find low milage unrestored original and want to keep it that way.