Having the known GM taillight issues. Who makes the best aftermarket tailights? What are yall running?

[Chevyguy2000]

Needing new taillights, having the common issue where the oem taillights are having a connection issue. Cleaned all my connections and my passenger rear and light behind my cab arnt working. What do yall recommend for aftermarket lights? Who makes the best aftermarket lights for our GMT400 trucks? Thanks again guys.

 

[df2x4]

If you want factory looks, TYC makes a set of replacement tail lights that you can get for under $50 on RockAuto. If your lights are still in good physical shape you could try just replacing the circuit boards as well, they also sell those separately.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=12218625&cc=1031533&pt=807

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=12446825&cc=1031533&pt=807

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=12446829&cc=1031533&pt=807

If you want something more modern looking, I've been very happy with my Anzo 211140s. They eliminate the tail light circuit boards and just have standard wired sockets for each bulb, which is nice.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038BBHNM

Regarding the 3rd brake light on the back of the cab, personally I think I would try to fix what you have. There are several aftermarket housings available but IMO none of them look as nice as the factory one. There is one that looks similar, but it's more of a modern design like the Anzo tail light housings.

https://rzlightz.com/collections/ta...ilverado-or-gmc-sierra?variant=41763237593241

 

[Erik the Awful]

The TYCs are nice and inexpensive. Just be sure and use a thin paint scraper to tuck that seal down as you push them into place or you'll crack the lens. If you look at the lower pic you'll see a tiny piece of the top corner busted off the left light.

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[Chevyguy2000]

Thanks Erik for that. Yeah so far I've heard and read that TYC and Anzos are what everyone recommends. I didn't even know they sold the board separately, that's like going in a old school auto parts store and actually fixing the old one rather than buying new as you mainly see today. I had to say that, cause you don't see that much anymore. But your TYCs look good on your chev, how bright do they light up when you turn your headlights/ and hit the brakes? But yeah I'm looking to get good replacements that are original as possible, but obviously better designed. I appreciate your input and recommendation too Erik.
Mike

 

[boy&hisdogs]

I was having problems with mine way back when and I just bought the no-name ebay LED tails for $100. I've had them on there for 10ish years with no issues. The only thing is there they do the fast-blink with the turn signals because the LEDs don't have as much resistance as regular bulbs.

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[someotherguy]

The OEM-copy TYC lenses are pretty accurate recreations, so you'll get similar to OEM appearance and function from them.

The circuit boards you choose can vary greatly.. there are some that look just like OEM, and are probably OK at best. Then there are some really cheesy ones out there. I don't think any of the offerings are what I would call "great" .. Rock carries TYC, Wells (WVE), Dorman, and strangely only the right side from GM (I guess stock of left has run out and obsoleted.) They also have their "various mfgr." choice and I'd just skip it.

I haven't bought any of the aftermarket circuit boards lately, but after looking at the pics on Rock, I'd skip the TYC and Dormans as they're the design I tried years ago and the bulbs didn't fit tightly in the sockets. The Wells (WVE) looks closer to OEM design but from the pics it doesn't look like they come with the gasket, so if yours are bad, that could be a minus. Usually they're OK though.

Richard

 

[Caman96]

GM 16511566 and 16511565 circuit boards are all over ebay for sale. I found NOS circuit boards and lens, most are like these. Still GM though.

GM 16511566 Tail Light Lamp Brake Circuit Board Connector Plat OEM RH for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for GM 16511566 Tail Light Lamp Brake Circuit Board Connector Plat OEM RH at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[GoToGuy]

I was having problems with mine way back when and I just bought the no-name ebay LED tails for $100. I've had them on there for 10ish years with no issues. The only thing is there they do the fast-blink with the turn signals because the LEDs don't have as much resistance as regular bulbs.

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Have you tried an electronic flasher , that's based on electronic timer instead of resistance bimetal flasher.

 

[someotherguy]

Have you tried an electronic flasher , that's based on electronic timer instead of resistance bimetal flasher.

Oh, you mean like the kind his truck came with from GM?

It can be hacked for free to remove the "fast flash" bulb-out warning. Or, can be replaced with an LED-specific flasher.

I used this hack on my '94 many years ago. Flash rate is not exactly as slow as with normal incandescent bulbs in place but greatly reduced from the hyperflash you get with LED's. Later I added the resistors back into the mix as when I replaced all 4 turn signals with switchbacks, and the corner markers with LED's as well, getting them to respond properly required the resistors in place.

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Richard

 

[boy&hisdogs]

Oh, you mean like the kind his truck came with from GM?

It can be hacked for free to remove the "fast flash" bulb-out warning. Or, can be replaced with an LED-specific flasher.

I used this hack on my '94 many years ago. Flash rate is not exactly as slow as with normal incandescent bulbs in place but greatly reduced from the hyperflash you get with LED's. Later I added the resistors back into the mix as when I replaced all 4 turn signals with switchbacks, and the corner markers with LED's as well, getting them to respond properly required the resistors in place.

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Richard

All my lights front and back are LEDs now, is there a flasher for that or do I need resistors as well since they are all LEDs?