Aftermarket tail light socket shrink tube?

[bronco italiano]

I have the aftermarket tail light socket and cannot figure out how to shrink down the supplied tube over the wires. Does it not shrink or is my heat gun a joke?

 

[DirtDonk]

Don’t really know. Looks like they made a change or that one skipped the process during manufacturing. Normally they’re shrunk down tight over the wires already.
Probably a new cost cutting measure.

 

[EPB72]

Most including the OE ones are pinched down and melted together where the wires enter have redone th original after socket repair by heating needle nose plies and pinching together ..

 

[DirtDonk]

Have you looked inside with a bright light? Is it wide open as it appears, or is there a secondary sealing surface around the wires inside?

 

[bronco italiano]

Have you looked inside with a bright light? Is it wide open as it appears, or is there a secondary sealing surface around the wires inside?

Well, I bought it from WH DD.
The tube slips off from the socket (when pulled).

 

[bronco italiano]

Hot pliers didn't produce any results.
Any other ideas?

 

[DirtDonk]

Yes, give us a call in the morning and have us send another.
Or at least so we can check to see if they’re all that way now.

 

[DirtDonk]

By the way, I don’t think we’ve talked about installation of this part on the forums in a long time. But how does everybody attach theirs to their lamp housing?
Since it must ground through the reflector (1157 type anyway), what technique have you all used?

 

[ba123]

I have a ground wire running to the rear of the Bronco that's grounded to a body attachment point in the rear and then off to things like tail light/camera/whatever else back there and then a stock style 2 wire connector for light connections:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081VDY95P/?tag=classicbroncos-20

 

[bronco italiano]

I have a ground wire running to the rear of the Bronco that's grounded to a body attachment point in the rear and then off to things like tail light/camera/whatever else back there and then a stock style 2 wire connector for light connections:
View attachment 958728
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081VDY95P/?tag=classicbroncos-20

Thanks ba123.
I do use those, it is the "shrink tube" at the housing base that will not shrink.
I am gonna do a Portuguese fix and be done with it. LOL

 

[ba123]

Thanks ba123.
I do use those, it is the "shrink tube" at the housing base that will not shrink.
I am gonna do a Portuguese fix and be done with it. LOL

You and your Portuguese fixes...

Sorry, I misunderstood but now see the lamp housing attachment part! Sorry!

 

[DirtDonk]

Don’t know if you’ve called already, but Matt checked for me and they’re all that way.
So what’s the Portuguese fix in this case? Fill it with sealer?

 

[Oldtimer]

If you fill it with sealer, I suspect the wires will not have enough movement to allow bulb to compress springs under the contacts.

 

[DirtDonk]

Agree. But you wouldn’t fill it all the way anyway I wouldn’t think.
Maybe some ultra shrink tubing with the gooey stuff on the inside. Put it over the end of the existing tube and encompass the exposed wires.

 

[bronco italiano]

I went with old timer and used RTV, the bulb was already in place