Leveling headlight adjustment

[Newmoonoyster]

Can anyone tell me for sure if I’ll need to do anything other than an alignment if I add 2 inch pucks to my 24 ?

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[Captain Dirty Beard]

You probably will need to lower the beams.

 

[crazywayne311]

maybe i'm dumb today...are you asking if other than getting a wheel alignment if you need to adjust headlights?

If so the answer is yes. your headlights need to be adjusted. you will get flashed and they will blind people.

 

[wayne1948]

I raised mine 2” using pucks. Never adjusted the headlights, never get flashed by oncoming drivers

 

[DNazzy’s2025]

Have you checked to see if you have auto-leveling headlights? I have a 2025 Lariat and it has auto-leveling. I noticed a small actuator arm that is only on the drivers side UCA. Had to do some research to find out that they auto level. It was a concern of mine also when I installed my 2.5” level.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

When I did the 2.5" level on mine I started getting flashed. likely due to the OEM quad LEDs, so I lowered them just a little bit.

 

[PatchManager]

I also wondered about this as well when I raised the front by 1.5" (puck) and the back by 0.75" (RAS). It depends on your model. If your truck has auto leveling headlights, there is not adjustment needed.

@rugedraw noted:

When I leveled my truck, I parked it in [front] of my garage at night and took a picture of the line my low beams made on the garage door, and marked exactly where I parked my truck in terms of distance from the garage door. I had the shop install the 2" leveling kit and when I went to measure them against my garage door, they were in the exact same spot they were before. I don't know if there is a limit to how much the auto leveling headlights will self adjust to, but in my case with only a 2" raise of the front end, they leveled themselves perfectly.

 

[rugedraw]

I also wondered about this as well when I raised the front by 1.5" (puck) and the back by 0.75" (RAS). It depends on your model. If your truck has auto leveling headlights, there is not adjustment needed.

@rugedraw noted:

When I leveled my truck, I parked it in [front] of my garage at night and took a picture of the line my low beams made on the garage door, and marked exactly where I parked my truck in terms of distance from the garage door. I had the shop install the 2" leveling kit and when I went to measure them against my garage door, they were in the exact same spot they were before. I don't know if there is a limit to how much the auto leveling headlights will self adjust to, but in my case with only a 2" raise of the front end, they leveled themselves perfectly.

It depends on whether the truck has the lights that level automatically or not. On the 21-23 trucks, Anything Lariat 502A or above did not require the headlights to be adjusted after a minor lift. Things changes for 2024, though. Any Lariat 500a and above comes with the Dynamic Bending Headlamps.

 

[Newmoonoyster]

maybe i'm dumb today...are you asking if other than getting a wheel alignment if you need to adjust headlights?

If so the answer is yes. your headlights need to be adjusted. you will get flashed and they will blind people.

Not if I have auto leveling as pointed out by others.

Have you checked to see if you have auto-leveling headlights? I have a 2025 Lariat and it has auto-leveling. I noticed a small actuator arm that is only on the drivers side UCA. Had to do some research to find out that they auto level. It was a concern of mine also when I installed my 2.5” level.

Thanks, that's exactly what I was trying to determine.

 

[Captain Dirty Beard]

On the 21-23 trucks, Anything Lariat 502A or above did not require the headlights to be adjusted after a minor lift.

This is only true if you don't have aftermarket upper control arms. My truck has the Dynamic bending Headlights, but after I installed the Icon tubular UCA's, the headlights still needed to be lowered. I think it is because the linkage for the level sensor doesn't end up in the exact same position as the OEM control arms, so the sensor "thinks" the headlights are level, but they aren't

 

[rugedraw]

This is only true if you don't have aftermarket upper control arms. My truck has the Dynamic bending Headlights, but after I installed the Icon tubular UCA's, the headlights still needed to be lowered. I think it is because the linkage for the level sensor doesn't end up in the exact same position as the OEM control arms, so the sensor "thinks" the headlights are level, but they aren't

Interesting. When I first leveled my truck, I used pucks with the stock UCAs. Recently, I did Bilstein 5100s and added Rough Country UCAs, but I never checked my headlights before and after because I assumed they would auto-level. So far, I haven't had anyone flash their high beams at night me because I am blinding them, so I am guessing all is good. I have a 3" lift now up front and the rear at factory height. The UCAs I put on are designed for 2"-4" lifts.

Maybe depending on how much of a lift you do, you will eventually get to a point where they need to be adjusted? Hard for me to say for sure.

 

[Captain Dirty Beard]

Interesting. When I first leveled my truck, I used pucks with the stock UCAs. Recently, I did Bilstein 5100s and added Rough Country UCAs, but I never checked my headlights before and after because I assumed they would auto-level. So far, I haven't had anyone flash their high beams at night me because I am blinding them, so I am guessing all is good. I have a 3" lift now up front and the rear at factory height. The UCAs I put on are designed for 2"-4" lifts.

Maybe depending on how much a lift you do, you will eventually get to a point where they need to be adjusted? Hard for me to say for sure.

Could be. All I know is that for sure people were flashing me, and my High beams would shoot into the cosmos. I had to lower them quite a bit to come back to DOT/factory settings.

Its a quick check with a tape measure and a flat surface and wall just to be sure.

 

[crazywayne311]

Have you checked to see if you have auto-leveling headlights? I have a 2025 Lariat and it has auto-leveling. I noticed a small actuator arm that is only on the drivers side UCA. Had to do some research to find out that they auto level. It was a concern of mine also when I installed my 2.5” level.

Just because you have autolevel doenst mean they dont need to be adjusted. Mine have the auto level and i'll tell you with 1000% confidence after the Ford Performance Set up was installed, they indeed were aimed high and needed to be lowered downward.

It depends on whether the truck has the lights that level automatically or not. On the 21-23 trucks, Anything Lariat 502A or above did not require the headlights to be adjusted after a minor lift. Things changes for 2024, though. Any Lariat 500a and above comes with the Dynamic Bending Headlamps.

as i mentioned above, i got flashed a bunch and i found mine were way off. ever since i've adjusted them though i havent had much of an issue.

Not if I have auto leveling as pointed out by others.

Thanks, that's exactly what I was trying to determine.

Again, thats false information. they will indeed most likely need to be adjusted.


this is what you need to do to be certain you're lights are correct. again, i know many have had to adjust their "auto leveling" headlights, me included.

I just pulled this straight from the owners manual.
Maintenance - Adjusting the Headlamps - Vehicles With: LED Headlamps

 

[rugedraw]

as i mentioned above, i got flashed a bunch and i found mine were way off. ever since i've adjusted them though i havent had much of an issue.

Maybe, but I did not do a before and after of where the light level was when I redid my suspension two weeks ago or so. So far, no one has flashed me at night, so I will leave it as. If I have to adjust them down a bit, I will.

 

[Captain Dirty Beard]

Just for those trying to do this - the dimple is not in the center of the lens, it is a couple inches below center

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