How I converted my 1156 sockets to 1157 for high/low beam.

Part 1 -  The Breakdown

I got to thinking that I wanted to convert The WarHorse's headlights to dual filament for high/low beam (just because why not!?) but the bulb sockets themselves have a proprietary bracket that holds them into the housing. I figured it was more trouble than it was worth to try and modify new 1157 sockets to work but with some thought and planning I could see how I could modify my existing sockets/brackets to work. There is a much easier way than how I've done it in this tutorial to achieve the same end goal that I've done before and I will explain that in the ending part of this thread for any of you that want to do it also! I had to come up with a new method because the specific LED bulbs I want to use are not available in any other configuration than 1157 (When you see what exactly I've done in The Warhorse thread you'll understand!).

Let's get started!!

Parts/materials required from start to finish are:

- 2 dual wire socket pigtails
- 2 1157 bulbs
- 1 ON/OFF/ON Single Pole Dual Throw (SPDT) switch (rocker and toggle both readily available)
- some wiring and connectors (you'll have to determine what gauge/length for your build).

Tools required: (well the tools I used!)

- Drill and a selection of smaller drill bits (from 1/16 - 9/64)
- Dremel with a small, worn down cutting wheel (due to little clearance).
- Small flat blade screwdriver
- Standard file
- Fine tipped marker

Actual working time approximately 30 minutes.

Part 2 - The Parts

Here's pics of what I'm working with:

The sockets and pigtails


Closeup of the pigtail


The pin that doesn't line up....yet!

Part 3 - Gettin' er done!

First thing I had to do (obviously) was remove the single contact pigtails from the sockets. There could be several different designs of how the pigtail stays in the socket, on mine there's little teets punched in to hold it from sliding out. All I had to do was use the small flatblade screwdriver to push one side down and then the other side popped up over the teet allowing it to be easily removed. The new pigtail has a little tab that is of another design to hold it in (as seen in pic 2 of last post), all I did was file it off and it's golden!

I used a 9/64" drill bit to make a circle with a fine tipped marker as a guide.


Then I started drilling by using a 1/16" to make a pilot hole and finished it off with a 1/8". I didn't want to go any bigger there's already not alot of material left! Lol.


I then bent that tab up a little so I could get at it with my dremel to cut the slot while leaving a little locking tab, bent it back down, tested the bulb in it and it locked it first try! All that was left was to install/align the harness, install the bulb and test it out....success!


That's it folks, pretty basic stuff with basic tools and basic skills! Lol. Tomorrow once the bulbs are in and installed I'll post the results in The Warhorse thread! Hope you all like it, the simplified version is coming up next!

Part 4 - The Simplified Way

As I stated earlier, there is a much easier way to convert your 1156 bulbs to a dual filament for high/low beam function but it wasn't going to work for what I have planned (something unique). Check it out in The Warhorse thread - Brianator Light Mod post.

Here's all you need for the simplified version

- 2 two wire pigtails like used above
- 1 ON/OFF/ON Single Pole Dual Throw (SPDT) switch (rocker and toggle both readily available)
- some wiring and connectors (you'll have to determine what gauge/length for your build).
- Bulbs. But wait! What bulbs you ask?! Type "BA15D HIGH/LOW BEAM" in Amazon and have a look for these! I can't attest to how bright the white ones are as I used red (for running and brake light functions) but for red leds they are really freaking bright! Don't worry about the bulb number that shows up, that changes with the color for some reason it's the base that is key to the conversion! The BA15D is the 1156 base, pins at 180 degrees apart and at the same height, it's a direct swap (once you change/wire the new pigtails that is!). The Wiseshine brand were the only ones I could find that were a true dual filament, the rest were a single that just happened to work in a dual socket. Hope some of you find this groovy and do it, you won't regret it no matter how unnecessary it is! Lol.





Good luck and ride safe!

Nice upgrade.

Thank you sir! A cheap easy one also but unique at the same time!