new third upper brake light, would you add a strip of silicone? (1 Viewer)

[jerryb]

Just wondering if I should add a dab of silicone or rtv to a new third upper brake light. I see having this truck long term.
I used rtv and silicone to fix last year when I should have just got a new light for 145 dollars in the first place. I takes hours to remove smoothed silicone off paint. RTV removal is fast with a wheel.
Shoulda woulda.
anyway--- add silicone in addition to new foam and light or not? 81570-60061 W/O spoiler.

 

[abuck99]

The new light has new foam gasket as well right? The new gasket should seal out rain ingress.

If want peace of mind, add a bead on the outside upper half of the light after installing light; from 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock. This would divert any driving force of rain water around the leading edge of the light. I dont imagine water leaking in and upward from the lower half of the fixture if there is a new gasket.

 

[jerryb]

You're right, 3 to 9 oclock would be good. I just don't want it to leak again in a few years, so I was thinking extra insurance is all.
yes it's new foam just like a peel and stick new emblem. Same not so good foam as original.

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

I just bought an aftermarket one of these to remove my "whale-tail" spoiler (can't stand the thing, and I want to be able to access the underpart of my frontrunner rack...). I will definitely be using some silicon around the edges.

 

[hoser]

I'm not sure the OE weatherstripping is 100% to blame. When mine finally started leaking (after 18 yrs), I noticed the center of the brake light a bit bowed out. I don't have a new one to compare it to though.

 

[jerryb]

I don't really know why this ten year old started leaking. Probably texas sun/heat. They do bow out in the middle though, there should have been a third stud, IMO. I did the quick fix like others have when I should have should bought a new light from the beginning. Or used strip caulk, or this other stuff that frost king makes from home depot, i think it's epdm? weatherstripping. Thanks for the info

 

[Julian Stead]

They are just cheaply made in my opinion, why it is even external beats me, One inside like my corolla would do. But Toyota want our spec to look a bit fancy with a Range Rover style tailgate and some frills to match. Most 100's in the world are most probably sold with barn doors.

 

[NC-Grayson]

i definitely added a heafty bead of silicone when i installed mine. the third time. because it kept leaking.

 

[hoser]

They are just cheaply made in my opinion, why it is even external beats me, One inside like my corolla would do...

Toyota listened and went back to what works...

 

[Julian Stead]

Toyota listened and went back to what works...

Looks better, shaded better, No unnecessary holes made. I think the last designer must of come from Land Rover to sabotage.

 

[Greenbean]

I want to bump this and ask what everyone is using to seal permanently the third brake lights?

I FINALLY was able to remove all the old gasket and my first attempted RTV crud and now have a clean surface to work with on both sides.

Turns out soaking the area to clean in Goo Gone gell worked really well. The remainder on the body I removed with the 3M wheel, then cleaned it all up with alcohol.


I found this foam gasket with one adhesive side at HD. Figured I could stick it to the truck and cut out my pattern I need and possible apply some silicone. Or find some butyl tape, or something else if it’s better.

I do not want to do this again, lol...

 

[Greenbean]

So turns out my original third brake kit is pretty warped.

Even with my valiant attempt and a couple hours of cleaning. I’m not sure it’s going to be waterproof.

So yeah I just got a 54.00 eBay China third brake light.

Just curious at this point what it looks like.

I’ll report back once I have it in and I will photograph it vs my original.

 

[kcobourn]

I just re-sealed mine with permatex clear silicon. Probably used too much & had to correct by filling in gaps in the bead via their flowable silicon product.

No leaks.

 

[2001LC]

I've just removed a third brake light that Lexus Dealership replaced, as it was leaking badly. Looking at seal I could not see where it was leaking. One of the securing nuts was loose (try tightening first), but seal had no breaks and adhesion was good. The seal between lens and plastic housing also looks good. I've no idea where water was getting in

@Greenbean I'm thinking I'll go your rout and pick up seal from HD. Has this worked well for you?

Did a little touch up de-rust with micro stone grinding and epoxy primer on body where the outer ends of plastic of brake lite rubs in prep for sealing in light.

 

[Greenbean]

Despite my doubts it actually has!

My factory light assembly is quite warped too, after looking closer at the design any water that leaks in through the lens and/or surrounding area should “technically” be inside the upper hatch and as it increased move to the left or right and stay within the hatch itself. Eventually draining out the weep holes on the lower outer corners.

Take a close look at the design is what I had to do.

Any water that you can confirm dripping in from above the rear window is going to be from the perimeter hatch seal back there, might just be dirty and not faulty.

Make sense?

How hard was it for you to clean up that brake light and the body portion?

 

[aging fleet]

I cleaned the foam adhesive off my original third brake light and hatch then resealed with butyl rope. Its been dry for a few years now.

@Greenbean , it was a struggle getting all the old stuff off.

 

[Greenbean]

Is it ever!

You know I had multiple types of that butyl rope in my Amazon cart! Even the Nissan stuff people rave about for resealing headlight lenses and such.

If I ever get crazy and do another lens I’ll try it!

Can I ask what brand if butyl rope you purchased?

 

[2001LC]

Despite my doubts it actually has!

My factory light assembly is quite warped too, after looking closer at the design any water that leaks in through the lens and/or surrounding area should “technically” be inside the upper hatch and as it increased move to the left or right and stay within the hatch itself. Eventually draining out the weep holes on the lower outer corners.

Take a close look at the design is what I had to do.

Any water that you can confirm dripping in from above the rear window is going to be from the perimeter hatch seal back there, might just be dirty and not faulty.

Make sense?

How hard was it for you to clean up that brake light and the body portion?

Thanks!
It does make sense!

Wasn't hard to clean. I used a heat blow gun to warm area to remove lens, then pried off with plastic body tools. I unfortunately broke two small guide tabs off back side of lens during removal. Look close at picture above and you'll see where.

I've carbon fiber scaping tools I picked up at HF, they work well and don't harm the body paint or plastic. I then used 3M adhesive remover. I'd say 60 minute to pull light, clean old adhesive, paint prep and paint.

I cleaned the foam adhesive off my original third brake light and hatch then resealed with butyl rope. Its been dry for a few years now.

@Greenbean , it was a struggle getting all the old stuff off.

I really like butyl rope, stuff last forever and easy to use and remove. I'll be looking for some on my parts and supply run today. Thank for posting that as, I was wondering if anyone had used

 

[aging fleet]

Can I ask what brand if butyl rope you purchased?

I used 3M Window-Weld ribbon sealer, it's marketed as a 'replacement for original equipment butyl installation' but not sure if it's actually butyl or some proprietary 3M concoction. It's held up well so far, but there may be superior products on the market such as the Nissan stuff.

I really like butyl rope, stuff last forever and easy to use and remove. I'll be looking for some on my parts and supply run today. Thank for posting that as, I was wondering if anyone had used

No problem, hopefully it works well for you too.

 

[Greenbean]

I used 3M Window-Weld ribbon sealer, it's marketed as a 'replacement for original equipment butyl installation' but not sure if it's actually butyl or some proprietary 3M concoction. It's held up well so far, but there may be superior products on the market such as the Nissan stuff.

What width did you use?

In the HID world the Nissan stuff can be rolled and stretched to make the diameter different.



I miss what Honda and Acura do as you could always get replacement gaskets to all the brake light bits and such.

I was quite shocked Toyota wouldn’t just sell the gasket but after realizing it’s a stick on on both sides it makes sense.

I just know eventually I want to reseal those gaskets that are in the tail gate and I’ll need a butyl type tape to do that!

Evidently butyl tape/ribbon is all the rage in the boating world. I sure learned a lot about it from this place!


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