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Leveled the 2026 Raptor & didn't need to re-aim headlights... NICE.

dpAtlanta

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My last three Ford's that I leveled, I had to re-aim the headlights, so I didn't blind on-coming drivers.
I placed the vehicle 25' away from a garage door, marked the top of each projected headlight beam.
The truck went from this:

Ford Ranger Leveled the 2026 Raptor & didn't need to re-aim headlights... NICE. IMG_6676


To this:

Ford Ranger Leveled the 2026 Raptor & didn't need to re-aim headlights... NICE. IMG_6698


I placed the vehicle back in the same location, and the top of the projected beam matched perfectly with the tape I had place prior to the level springs installed.
I used Eibach "Pro-Lift Kit" which raised the front 1-1/2".
It now has a 1" rake as opposed to a 2-1/2" rake.

Before:

Ford Ranger Leveled the 2026 Raptor & didn't need to re-aim headlights... NICE. IMG_6683


Ford Ranger Leveled the 2026 Raptor & didn't need to re-aim headlights... NICE. IMG_6684


After:

Ford Ranger Leveled the 2026 Raptor & didn't need to re-aim headlights... NICE. IMG_6701


Ford Ranger Leveled the 2026 Raptor & didn't need to re-aim headlights... NICE. IMG_6702


I also got home and popped the hood to discover there are no adjustment screws for aiming the headlights.
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CaptAngry

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Look closer... there ARE adjustment screws. They are a bit buried.

Did you recalibrate the height sensors?
 
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dpAtlanta

dpAtlanta

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Look closer... there ARE adjustment screws. They are a bit buried.

Did you recalibrate the height sensors?
Ahhh.... RTFM.
Page 433.

Ford Ranger Leveled the 2026 Raptor & didn't need to re-aim headlights... NICE. IMG_6708


Ford Ranger Leveled the 2026 Raptor & didn't need to re-aim headlights... NICE. IMG_6709


I guess a 1-1/2" lift did not raise it enough to make a vertical height difference needing adjustment.

I didn't find anything in the manual about recalibrating the height sensors.

This is what the AI Google machine spit out:

Ford Ranger Leveled the 2026 Raptor & didn't need to re-aim headlights... NICE. Screenshot_16-6-2026_182020_www.bing.com
 
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Awirez

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The manual isn't going to say anything about calibration because Ford doesn't want the truck leveled. You need to calibrate VDM. Maybe HCM, if the Raptor has that. Then you'll need to adjust headlights.
 

Gravy Jones

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If you didn’t recalibrate the ride height, the lights probably did adjust themselves down to the original level as the truck thinks the front suspension is extended. Once you recalibrate ride height (which you should), the lights will re-adjust to the factory setting. Which will how be high. You’ll need to manually adjust them back down using the screws.
 

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dpAtlanta

dpAtlanta

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If you didn’t recalibrate the ride height, the lights probably did adjust themselves down to the original level as the truck thinks the front suspension is extended. Once you recalibrate ride height (which you should), the lights will re-adjust to the factory setting. Which will how be high. You’ll need to manually adjust them back down using the screws.
Not as easy as it used to be.

Thanks!
 
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dpAtlanta

dpAtlanta

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If the lights are still within the factory spec with the 1-1/2" lift I did, why do anything else?
 

Gravy Jones

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If the lights are still within the factory spec with the 1-1/2" lift I did, why do anything else?
Because now the truck thinks the shocks are extended, so the computer is going to stiffen up the compression. Ride quality will be harsher. You need to recalibrate ride height to get the live valve shocks to return to normal compression.
 
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dpAtlanta

dpAtlanta

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Because now the truck thinks the shocks are extended, so the computer is going to stiffen up the compression. Ride quality will be harsher. You need to recalibrate ride height to get the live valve shocks to return to normal compression.
Good to know… thanks!

Things are a bit more complicated compared to my 1974 CJ5.
 

Awirez

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You can utilize Forscan and do it yourself. There are videos of VDM calibration. It's quite easy if done correctly. If you are not comfortable, a dealer should be able to do it.
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