DIY 4th Brake Light for $35

[thekevinvo]

I know not everyone wants to spend a bunch of money on an aftermarket 4th brake light, but here's a way to make one yourself for under $50!

[LRNAD90]

Really don't understand why everyone wants a 4th brake light at tailpipe level. Honestly, I think it looks kind of dumb, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion for sure, that's why customizing cars is so popular I guess..

Personally I'd rather see a kit to turn it into a proper rear fog light (foreign market light stalk with the switch, bulb holder, wiring, etc. Heck, maybe the wiring is already there?), which I have to assume, was its intended purpose when designed..

[Spektyr]

Originally Posted by LRNAD90

Really don't understand why everyone wants a 4th brake light at tailpipe level.

Probably because that's roughly the same position relative to the rear tires that Formula 1 has their brake light.

At least that's my guess.

Personally, I'd like it to light up simply because a dead red reflector looks weird to me. If I didn't know better, I'd think someone was driving a brand-new car with a burned out tail light.

[EndlessAzure]

Originally Posted by LRNAD90

Really don't understand why everyone wants a 4th brake light at tailpipe level. Honestly, I think it looks kind of dumb, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion for sure, that's why customizing cars is so popular I guess..

Personally I'd rather see a kit to turn it into a proper rear fog light (foreign market light stalk with the switch, bulb holder, wiring, etc. Heck, maybe the wiring is already there?), which I have to assume, was its intended purpose when designed..

The complete OEM rear fog lamp housing, wiring harness, and switch kit is available from Japan. It's in the Subaru accessory catalog. Only problem is it's a mounted switch for RHD cars, rather than the stalk found in Gen1

It's not cheap, but if you have patience it can be had used & imported for a fraction of the price a few years down the line

[x808drifter]

Originally Posted by LRNAD90

Really don't understand why everyone wants a 4th brake light at tailpipe level.

Because it's called a "Fog Light" not a brake light.
Perpetuating the incorrect info definitely isn't helping the situation.

[LRNAD90]

Originally Posted by x808drifter

Because it's called a "Fog Light" not a brake light.
Perpetuating the incorrect info definitely isn't helping the situation.

Yeah, I think that was my point..

[racingfool]

Originally Posted by Spektyr

Probably because that's roughly the same position relative to the rear tires that Formula 1 has their brake light.

F1 cars do not have brake lights.

Originally Posted by x808drifter

Because it's called a "Rain Light" not a brake light.

Which indicates charging the hybrid batteries when there's no rain?.

[Tcoat]

https://atlanticmotorcar.com/casestu...brake%20lights.

[AK2112]

Looks decent. The light matches the other brake lights well and I'm all for increased visibility when braking/stopped so I don't get assholed by a Tahoe.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by AK2112

Looks decent. The light matches the other brake lights well and I'm all for increased visibility when braking/stopped so I don't get assholed by a Tahoe.

If the Tahoe can't see the two super bright brake lights up high it sure as hell isn't going to notice the one 7 inches above the ground.
This is a cosmetic mod at best and although there is nothing wrong with that there is no sense in pretending there is a practical reason for it.

[Spektyr]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

If the Tahoe can't see the two super bright brake lights up high it sure as hell isn't going to notice the one 7 inches above the ground.
This is a cosmetic mod at best and although there is nothing wrong with that there is no sense in pretending there is a practical reason for it.

Coming from a "professionally paranoid" perspective (data security) I like to have contingency plans for my contingency plans.

The more brake lights you have the more lights have to burn out before you're completely failing to inform drivers that you're stopping. I'm not pretending that it's entirely practical or likely to be needed, but in the event you have 1-2 taillights out, an extra brake light might be the difference between getting that driver's attention or not.

Especially considering how often I see other drivers holding a phone in front of their face.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Spektyr

Coming from a "professionally paranoid" perspective (data security) I like to have contingency plans for my contingency plans.

The more brake lights you have the more lights have to burn out before you're completely failing to inform drivers that you're stopping. I'm not pretending that it's entirely practical or likely to be needed, but in the event you have 1-2 taillights out, an extra brake light might be the difference between getting that driver's attention or not.

Especially considering how often I see other drivers holding a phone in front of their face.

Meh. If you are driving around with burnt out brake lights and hoping that somebody will notice one where they least expect to see it then if you get rear ended it is your own bloody fault.

[Spektyr]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Meh. If you are driving around with burnt out brake lights and hoping that somebody will notice one where they least expect to see it then if you get rear ended it is your own bloody fault.

I've never intentionally burned out a taillight or turned them on, sat, and watched until it burned out.

I have changed more than a few bulbs over the years but never actually seen one burn out.

So even the most observant driver is going to have non-zero time elapse between a taillight burning out and realizing that it burned out. I check my lights a good deal more frequently than anyone I know, but I still don't do a full pre-flight walk around before every drive.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Spektyr

Coming from a "professionally paranoid" perspective (data security) I like to have contingency plans for my contingency plans.

The more brake lights you have the more lights have to burn out before you're completely failing to inform drivers that you're stopping. I'm not pretending that it's entirely practical or likely to be needed, but in the event you have 1-2 taillights out, an extra brake light might be the difference between getting that driver's attention or not.

Especially considering how often I see other drivers holding a phone in front of their face.

considering the tail lights on these vehicles are LED from the factory, if you're burning out bulbs, you've got the a car with the wrong badges on it!