Refurbing clear lenses that are yellowed

SYO237

SyTy Registry
For those who have clears on the grille (sidemarker lenses) and have had them for awhile, they might be yellowing on you. Here is a quick way to make them look new again and keep them looking nice.

First off, it is not the reflector lense that is turning yellow, it is the plastic housing behind it. So here's the way to refurb them.

Take a razor and CAREFULLY slide it between the front reflector lense and the plastic housing to break the glue seal. Go slow, take your time so you dont crack either pieces or worse, remove a digit from your hand. I suggest starting from a corner.

Once you have them apart, clean out any dirt and residue that might have found its way in. Take some medium fine grit sandpaper (600-800) and give the plastic housing a decent scuffing. Clean off all the dust and bust out the rattle can gloss white paint and do your thing on the plastic housing. It goes something like this:

Untouched Lense on Left, taken apart lense with painted housing Right

lense1.jpg



Once the paint thoroughly dries, take some super glue and apply a liberal amount back around the edge of the plastic housing and fit the lense back on. I bound my lenses in tape to hold it together tightly and put them on the shelf while the glue dried fully.

End result, my lenses look brand new and now wont yellow again:

lense2.jpg



Have fun, be safe, dont inhale to much paint fumes.
 

SYO237

SyTy Registry
Re: Refurbing clear lenses that are yellowed

BTW, Id love to see someone do the housing in black and put the clear lense back on. :tup: I wish I would have thought of doing it before I glued mine all back together.
 

SYO237

SyTy Registry
Re: Refurbing clear lenses that are yellowed

I have used a flitz kit on headlights that were yellowed, it worked great i am sure it would work on taillights or markers too http://www.superiorcarcare.net/flitz-headlight-plastic-restoration-kit.html


Read above and look at the pics...its not the lens that is yellowed, it's the plastic housing behind it. You can even see the lens is fine removed from the housing. Its still nice and clear, so polishing the lens wont get you anywhere.
 

95xtreme

New member
Re: Refurbing clear lenses that are yellowed

BTW, Id love to see someone do the housing in black and put the clear lense back on. :tup: I wish I would have thought of doing it before I glued mine all back together.


It looks sweet, I did that on a friends s10 quite awhile ago I will see if I can find you some pictures.
 

SYO237

SyTy Registry
Re: Refurbing clear lenses that are yellowed

make sure your white paint is UV stable or it will yellow too


I used the outdoor plastic paint for doing like patio furniture and whatnot. Pretty that has UV crap in it....it better for as much as the shit costs.
 

Injected1

Member
Re: Refurbing clear lenses that are yellowed

I just bought new ones for like 15 shipped. wouldn't that be easier?
 

SYO237

SyTy Registry
Re: Refurbing clear lenses that are yellowed

I just bought new ones for like 15 shipped. wouldn't that be easier?

Why? The can of paint was cheaper, and it took all of 30 minutes total work to get it done....and your new ones will still eventually yellow.
 

b00n

'Noma GT #0380
Re: Refurbing clear lenses that are yellowed

:rotf: I personally just VHT Night shaded mine black but I'll probably cut open some & tint them from the inside vs the outside. I :dunno: how well they'll look on a Teal SoGT blacked out but anyways .... good job :tup:
 

blk00z28

Forced to by choice
Re: Refurbing clear lenses that are yellowed

Has anyone done this to a set of stockers? If so have any pictures?
 

b00n

'Noma GT #0380
Re: Refurbing clear lenses that are yellowed

Has anyone done this to a set of stockers? If so have any pictures?

I could take pics of my VHT stockers but I don't see why you'd want to take them apart to do what this guy did to his clears :?
 

blk00z28

Forced to by choice
Re: Refurbing clear lenses that are yellowed

I'm not a fan of clear lights on our trucks. At least not on black trucks. The yellow turn's make it look better to me. :dunno:Just wondering what the backing plate color is on the stockers, is it orange and does it show up like this white does on the clear ones?
 

fauXGT

Brick Pilot
Re: Refurbing clear lenses that are yellowed

I'm not a fan of clear lights on our trucks. At least not on black trucks. The yellow turn's make it look better to me. :dunno:Just wondering what the backing plate color is on the stockers, is it orange and does it show up like this white does on the clear ones?
Bumper front turns are silver reflective inside. Side markers are white inside.
 
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