Replacement tailamp sockets?

[gcoupe72]

Our '72 Runner has two extremely rusty back up lamp sockets.I think at one time the lamps were 1/2 full of water! One side won't hold a bulb.

Has anyone replaced these sockets?
I'm guessing I could cut up what's left, and maybe glue in something from a parts store.
I'd be happy to hear from someone who's done this, and could offer any tips.
Also, is there a trusted source for new tail lamp gaskets?

[71bird]

I had the same problem.I actuality took mine apart as far as i could get them and sraped and lubed ect.over and over as good as i could get them.Their working, but not like new, i noticed one backup light was interment and i had to take it apart and wiggle it around to get it to ground right,but who knows how long that will last.I think the next step would be is to buy new ones at a parts store just for the inner workings (springs and pigtail ) and splice wires and put them back in the orig. socket.Also all the 1157 light bulbs on the market today are of the Kung Fu variety.

[PLUM BAD]

Here are some pics of what I did. I epoxied light sockets from a late model car into the housings. I don't remember what car they were from.

[71ChallengerSE]

Interesting, any pics of them lit up?

[sdweatherman]

Thats a good looking fix. I will probably have to do something similar, as my sockets are a little crusty also. Landon1 had this same question in a previous post. rr6pak forwarded him to a link on moparts that also shows someone modifying their tail light housings. Here it is:

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/sho ... PHPSESSID=

[gcoupe72]

Wow Plum, thanks for the photos!
sd, thanks for the link.

Some great ideas, I hadn't even considered using "modern" plastic sockets.
That should keep this from happening again.
And Plum Bad, I noticed your new sockets used different bulbs.
Like 71, I'm curious how the brightness works with your original brake,turn, and running light bulbs?

[PLUM BAD]

The upper taillight sockets are original. I just cleaned them up in the blast cabinet, put a little epoxy around them to seal them, and painted them black. I used the same 1157 bulbs that came originally. I guess you could use 2057's if you wanted brighter taillights. For the lower back-up light sockets I used 3156 bulbs, which are probably the same brightness as 1156 that the factory used.