Headlight header panel

[itwonder]

There's not much left of mine (PN FO1220203). It's so broken that I can't see exactly how it attaches. I'm planning to order an aftermarket replacement from Ebay. I'm going to put in new Sable headlight assemblies too. Would appreciate any tips and lessons learned from those who have replaced this header before.

P.S. I know That I'm going to need 6 headlight clips. Are there any other surprise fasteners or other little parts that I'm going to need?

 

[rubydist]

no, its readily apparent once you get the bumper cover and headlights out of the way.

 

[tery]

All I can share from doing it a few months ago is don't try to half take off things cause it is a tight fit and you may find the side pieces attachment nuts too rusty to get off, mine just broke, the nuts (2) on the inside braces at the top are screwed onto little studs that are not removable from that bracket but of course, Fred is right, it's pretty easy to see what has to come off and how to do it..
good luck

 

[intimdatr]

Id recomend getting a used one from junk yard over a new. The last head panel i got was a total pile of crap, Head lights sagged and holes were quite the right size etc. I dont know if it was just my luck or what

 

[itwonder]

The retainer bits are off. It looks like the bottom of the retainer engages with taps in the top of the bumper cover. My thinking is the top of the bumper cover is going to have to be loosened in order to get the headlight retainer in place. I'll need to figure out how it is held on.

 

[zoomlater]

If I recall, you do have to remove the bumper cover to get the header panel off (plus it's easier to see what has to come off). I second the recommendation to try and see if you can get one from the junkyard as 92 to 95 Sable's have the same header panel if you can't find a SHO. The trick is to find one that hasn't been damaged.

 

[itwonder]

Do the aftermarket Depo and TYC Sable headlight assemblies come with the little adjuster stub (the one at the bottom) and the pivot stud (the one that's at the top)? One of the pivot studs is broken on my old lights, so I can't reuse it.

I think I see how to proceed on the bumper cover now; thanks for the tips. I gave the bolts a good dose of penetrating oil, and we'll let that sit overnight before going further.

 

[tery]

Good luck, I think I have on of the pivots studs you can have, they're tricky to get off and not bust anything, but it can be done with little jewelers screw drivers to hold the locking tabs up so you can then turn the thing and have it come out through the slots in the headlight shell mounting place. If you wanna send me a pic I can be sure I've got one...

 

[itwonder]

Thanks for the kind offer Tery. I went to a JY today, and I came home with what looks to be a serviceable header and a pivot. The header has one repair, but it seems to be professionally done and it's strong. I was able to get a pivot off of a broken headlight.

The bumper cover is off. Despite liberal doses of penetrating oil and the back-and-forth trick, one stud broke off. Oh well. I can think of several ways to go about repairing it, will have to choose one.

Anybody know off hand which size push pins are needed? Amazon has them pretty cheap, just not sure what size to order; I hate to end up with a bag of wrong ones.

 

[kevinspann]

Bob, these are the pushpins I used with I reinstalled my bumper, 665-1125 at Napa

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/C...stener-Round-Button/_/R-BK_6651125_0361217941

Which stud broke off? One of the two at the top of the bracket, or the one part of the way down? I think I just removed the stock stud and used a random bolt that had the same thread.

 

[itwonder]

Thanks for the pushpins part number Kevin; I'll get those. It's one of the upper studs that sheared off; the one nearest the end of the bumper.

 

[tery]

Yah, That's the same one that sheared off for me and I ended up drilling through the stud that was left there cause it wasn't gonna chisel or other its way off. Just drill it out and use a bolt/nut. Oh..and, don't buy the push pins on Amazon, it looks like a good deal, but they used some more brittle plastic and they only go in once, and then they break their tops off, at least that's what happened to the door panel pins I bought, The ones I got at Mennards work pretty well, but they want two bucks for 6 or 7 which ****** me off cause I know they cost 5 cents max to produce...Me thanks you too Kevin, I'll look up your link too.