Top-Down Solutions is announcing another new product. This time just for you Firebird (Fiero & Corvette) guys & gals. The TDS 207280 Headlight Repair Kit. This kit repairs the 1987-92 Firebird, 1987-88 Fiero and 1988-96 Corvette. This headlight motor assembly was a vast improvement over the previous two-gear unit GM used. This unit has a large nylon gear that is driven by the worm gear on the motor shaft. This Nylon gear contains 3 solid gel inserts that transfer the load from the gear to a 3-lobe cast hub inside. These inserts harden and crumble with age. When they have broken down to roughly a spoonful of crumbs the gear will no longer turn the hub to raise and lower the headlight assembly. Instead hub will just free wheel on the gear. The kit retails for $5. Each kit contains enough parts to repair one headlight. I am including a FREE 1.5 oz tube of Permatex WL-9 White Lithium grease if two kits are ordered.

My web site is about 95% done, but until then you can still reach me by e-mail if you want a price list or to order something: topdownsolutions@yahoo.com

Thanks,

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions
here is a picture of the kit:

 

And here is the "Freebie"...

Lon

 

Well Lon you know I need one lol Let me know the info on getting it I am getting pretty fed up pulling my headlight up.

 

Are you sure about the 87 part? I know for sure that the Fiero's went to the newer style motor in 88, so if that's what this kit is for, it will only work on 88 Fieros.

I don't know when they changed them in the rest. Having owned 3 other Fieros, I feel pretty knowledgable about them

GP

 

http://www.rodneydickman.com/electrical.html

Rodney Dickman is a lot more of an expert on the Fieros than I am. He says on his web site that 1987 was the year they changed. I've confirmed it. I pulled the headlight units from a 1987 Fiero Tuesday. They are the same as the sample Bret dropped off Sunday.

Lon

 

Not trying to take away your business, but can't you just use steel ball bearings like I did?

 

As I see it, the problem with using a ball bearing is you have a MUCH smaller area of contact than you would with the cylindrical shaped Delrin bushing. The bearing will have a greater force in that one area and lead to the nylon gear and hub wearing much quicker. As the the die cast hub & nylon gear wear you'll have ever greater slop in the assembly. As this slop increases you'll have a greater chance of it binding as the motor loads and unloads the housing. It won't be a smooth operation any longer. In contrast to this small point contact problem with the bearing, the bushing engages the ENTIRE side wall of the gear and hub. There is MUCH less force distributed per square inch as a result. This is all before we even take into account the superior lubricity of the Delrin to the steel. Ball-bearings, leather, many materials have been jerry-rigged into service by frustrated owners. I am providing a better solution.

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions