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LEDS in Brake Lights

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Old 12-10-2010, 11:51 AM
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Question LEDS in Brake Lights

I just converted my rear side markers to leds, and was wondering wut i can use to match the back in the taillamps, few questions, i know there are the 194 bulbs back there for the running lights, if i change those to leds will there even be any difference in brightness or should i save my money, also looking to do the brakes too, and do they make a brighter none led bulb for the amber turn signal?? i appreciate any help
Old 12-10-2010, 11:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Ls1CamaroGuy87
SMDs in the running lights will be brighter than stock 194 bulbs, but the brake lights won't unless your tails are tinted. If you have SMDs in both the running lights and brake lights it is very difficult to see the difference in brightness between the two. In other words, it will be harder to tell when you are braking.

...Maybe just change the running lights and keep the brake bulbs you currently have.
ok cool, wut do u mean by the SMDs?
Old 12-11-2010, 08:54 AM
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Have you ever used the search function? Or do you just like to clutter up the appearance section with LED questions?
Old 12-11-2010, 09:52 AM
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The only difference you would notice it the sudden on/off like how the higher end cars do. After I put my LED's in and noticed there wasn't much difference in the light out put, I left them in cause of the sudden on/off like said before, because of the higher end cars. Plus I wanted an up to date look when I would hit the brakes and what not.
Old 12-12-2010, 12:03 AM
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Originally Posted by 9WhiteCamaro9
The only difference you would notice it the sudden on/off like how the higher end cars do. After I put my LED's in and noticed there wasn't much difference in the light out put, I left them in cause of the sudden on/off like said before, because of the higher end cars. Plus I wanted an up to date look when I would hit the brakes and what not.
gotcha which ones did u use for ur tails?
Old 12-12-2010, 01:22 AM
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wuts the led u used?
Old 12-12-2010, 05:10 PM
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Brakes: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2x-31...item3cb129d565
I know of some better ones, but these are nice and much cheaper^

Running light are the same ones you used for your gauge cluster.
Old 12-12-2010, 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Ls1CamaroGuy87
Brakes: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2x-31...item3cb129d565
I know of some better ones, but these are nice and much cheaper^

Running light are the same ones you used for your gauge cluster.
yea but wut color do u use?
Old 12-12-2010, 09:50 PM
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It says red on the listing I posted...lol

Red lens= red
amber lens= amber
clear lens =white
pretty straight forward
Old 12-12-2010, 11:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Ls1CamaroGuy87
It says red on the listing I posted...lol

Red lens= red
amber lens= amber
clear lens =white
pretty straight forward
ok cool, i must have missed that, i think im gonna get the brake ones and the running lights in the tails too
Old 12-15-2010, 12:46 PM
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just ordered the 20 Led tower ones for the brakes, and the wledrxhp5s for the 194 tails both in red
Old 12-15-2010, 08:40 PM
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Led bulbs in the brake lights are worthless. The only good way to get led lights back there is with a custom application. I've spent $20-30 on one bulb, only to find out one of two things:
1. Very poor light spread in the taillight. You will see a very bright circle in the taillight.
2. When the sun is directly on the taillight, good luck seeing the bulb light up.

I have also tired a set of led bulbs in the DRL, and they had about 1/2 th light output. I do have LEDs in my sidemarker lights though.
Old 12-15-2010, 11:32 PM
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Originally Posted by _JB_
Led bulbs in the brake lights are worthless. The only good way to get led lights back there is with a custom application. I've spent $20-30 on one bulb, only to find out one of two things:
1. Very poor light spread in the taillight. You will see a very bright circle in the taillight.
2. When the sun is directly on the taillight, good luck seeing the bulb light up.

I have also tired a set of led bulbs in the DRL, and they had about 1/2 th light output. I do have LEDs in my sidemarker lights though.
Yea wut kind of LED were u running?
Old 12-16-2010, 01:24 AM
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Originally Posted by _JB_
Led bulbs in the brake lights are worthless. The only good way to get led lights back there is with a custom application. I've spent $20-30 on one bulb, only to find out one of two things:
1. Very poor light spread in the taillight. You will see a very bright circle in the taillight.
2. When the sun is directly on the taillight, good luck seeing the bulb light up.

I have also tired a set of led bulbs in the DRL, and they had about 1/2 th light output. I do have LEDs in my sidemarker lights though.
^What Midnight asked first^ I'm guessing you have not tried 7W high power SMD bulbs!

Pretty general statement, but I do agree that a custom set will yield the best results, although its more of a PITA (I'm currently working on a set). Also, LEDs work more efficiently in Camaro tail lights b/c they are better suited for them. The housings are smaller than Firebird lights, so the bulb has less space to fill out and less light enters from outside. Even my 5050 3-chip SMD bulbs from ebay fill out the reflector and the running lights are noticeably brighter.

Last edited by Ls1CamaroGuy87; 12-16-2010 at 02:21 PM.
Old 12-16-2010, 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Ls1CamaroGuy87
^What he said first^ I'm guessing you have not tried 7W high power SMD bulbs!

Pretty general statement, but I do agree that a custom set will yield the best results, although its more of a PITA (I'm currently working on a set). Also, LEDs work more efficiently in Camaro tail lights b/c they are better suited for them. The housings are smaller than Firebird lights, so the bulb has less space to fill out and less light enters from outside. Even my 5050 3-chip SMD bulbs from ebay fill out the reflector and the running lights are noticeably brighter.
just ordered these for the brake lights :
http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/B...34413-1-2.html
Old 12-16-2010, 05:22 PM
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Pretty sure I already have those. I have a pic of some online somewhere....
Old 12-16-2010, 07:05 PM
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Like I said before, they will perform better on a Camaro.
Old 12-17-2010, 01:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Ls1CamaroGuy87
Like I said before, they will perform better on a Camaro.
Yea they told me on the phone that they are super bright too
Old 12-19-2010, 12:51 AM
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gonna install them tommorow
Old 12-19-2010, 02:42 AM
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Put up pics! I'm curious!


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