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Make a custom rear brake light

Make a custom rear brake light
These days customizing lights is pretty easy with the LEDS that are available.
All you need is a bunch of red leds and some gray plastic.
By planing the spacing you can make your own custom design.
I used 22 leds to make a diamond pattern.
Using 12volt leds and you can avoid the dropping resistors.
Choose a high brightness type but remember to keep a wide viewing angle.
Mine are Kingbright L53SRD 12v 20ma 5mm red 100MCD with a 60 degree viewing angle.
Wired all together in parallel they draw less than 0.5 amp and
cost less than 50 cents apiece.
1) Take out the light assembly and carefully cut apart the upper and lower sections.
  I used a Dremil with a cutting disc.
2) Cut your new gray plastic panel to the same size as Ford's red lens.
  Drill the 5mm holes according to your pattern.
3) Push the leds into the holes, align all the leds the same way.
  The flat side of the led is minus, the longest lead is plus.
4) Solder all of the plus leads together and connect a common plus wire.
  Solder all of the minus leads together and connect a common minus wire.
5) Glue the parts back together. Cut the wires to the lamps and mate them with your
  new led wires. On my TBird the green was ground and the blue was plus.
Happy motoring.
BobNorway;)
There are only two tools you will ever need:
1) WD40
2) Duct Tape
If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
If it moves and shouldn't, use the duct tape.

Make a custom rear brake light

Reply #1 –
Fancy!
One 88

Make a custom rear brake light

Reply #2 –
Cool. If i didn't already have a Federal Signal LED 3rd brake light I'd consider doing that myself. I am slowly doing it to my tail lights though (think 600 5k MCD red led's and 200 10k MCD white LED's :D)
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣
 

Make a custom rear brake light

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Thunder Chicken
Cool. If i didn't already have a Federal Signal LED 3rd brake light I'd consider doing that myself. I am slowly doing it to my tail lights though (think 600 5k MCD red led's and 200 10k MCD white LED's :D)


been making any progress with those lately?

Make a custom rear brake light

Reply #4 –
Nope. Too busy renovating the house. I also have a huge pile of chassis/suspension (CHE tubular rear control arms, TC rear, TC front brakes & spindles, poly bushings, Chuck's mounts, KB subframe connectors),body (TC hood and header panel) and interior bits (TC seats, door panels and uncracked dash) to go into the car. I've also gotta get it painted. All I need is time...


Hopefully this winter I'll be able to make use of the garage...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Make a custom rear brake light

Reply #5 –
ive wanted to take a strip of those and put it one the bottom of my rear window for some time. i was thinking a 24" tailgate light strip for a truck stuck on a fabed up bracket is it is small and thin.
1986 Cougar LS