froggy47
Well-known member
Faded CHMSL is an easy fix
I began to notice that on my 96 & others the CHMSL (Center High Mount Stop Light) was a lot more faded than the 4 tail lights. Looked crummy.
I tried to polish it up (saw a tech tip about using different kinds of mag/alum polish) but it would only last a couple of months & would need it again.
So here's how you fix it.
You need a 1/4 in drive ratchet, 7mm socket & whatever you need to remove the license plate. Mine was on with T15 torx fasteners.
Remove the plate. The 2 7mm screws are "blind" but come off easy w/ the small ratchet.
I got my new CHMSL from Chris @ Superior (PN 5975799) for $20.18 & shipping.
Remove the old lense (GM calls it a lamp), twist out the bulb (there's a little locking lever) , put the new one back the reverse way.
I replaced all my 1156 bulbs with 7506 bulbs for a roughly 20% gain in brightness - per Sylvania's brightness spec's.
Can't have those brake lights too bright when some moron is on your *a*s*s* and you stand on the binders.
Tip: Before you put the new lense in, put a piece of tape over the part that shows, there are lot's of sharpies in there to scratch that brand new CHMSL.
Tip2: Not too tight when you screw the new one down, you're cutting threads into virgin plastic - doesn't need to be that tight or you'll strip it. I just tightened until I felt that the flat washers would not spin.
I began to notice that on my 96 & others the CHMSL (Center High Mount Stop Light) was a lot more faded than the 4 tail lights. Looked crummy.
I tried to polish it up (saw a tech tip about using different kinds of mag/alum polish) but it would only last a couple of months & would need it again.
So here's how you fix it.
You need a 1/4 in drive ratchet, 7mm socket & whatever you need to remove the license plate. Mine was on with T15 torx fasteners.
Remove the plate. The 2 7mm screws are "blind" but come off easy w/ the small ratchet.
I got my new CHMSL from Chris @ Superior (PN 5975799) for $20.18 & shipping.
Remove the old lense (GM calls it a lamp), twist out the bulb (there's a little locking lever) , put the new one back the reverse way.
I replaced all my 1156 bulbs with 7506 bulbs for a roughly 20% gain in brightness - per Sylvania's brightness spec's.
Can't have those brake lights too bright when some moron is on your *a*s*s* and you stand on the binders.
Tip: Before you put the new lense in, put a piece of tape over the part that shows, there are lot's of sharpies in there to scratch that brand new CHMSL.
Tip2: Not too tight when you screw the new one down, you're cutting threads into virgin plastic - doesn't need to be that tight or you'll strip it. I just tightened until I felt that the flat washers would not spin.
