Removal

• 1). Identify the brake light in need of repair. Ask a friend to stand at the rear of the truck while you depress the brake pedal. You can also back the truck's rear up close to a semi-reflective surface like a garage door to do this yourself.
  
  
• 2). Raise and support the hood on the truck. Locate the truck's battery and remove the negative cable from its post with a socket wrench. The top of the battery will have a plus and minus symbol on it. Remove the cable from the minus side. Wrap the metal terminal on the end of the cable completely with electrical tape. Lay the cable down and away from the engine as well as all other metal within the engine compartment.
  
  
• 3). Lower the tailgate at the rear of the truck. On the inner side of the taillight lens, you will see two Phillips-head screws. Remove them both with a Philips screwdriver and set them to the side.
  
  
• 4). Pull the taillight assembly outward from the truck using both hands. Do this slowly because the wires connected to the back of the assembly do not have that much slack. Disconnect the wiring harness on the back of the taillight assembly by hand. A small flat-head screwdriver can assist you in lifting the safety clip on the wiring-harness plug if needed.
  
  
• 5). Remove the brake-light socket from the taillight assembly by rotating the socket one-quarter turn counterclockwise. Remove the brake-light bulb by gently pulling it straight out of the socket. Do not twist the bulb, as it may shatter in your hand or break off in the socket.
  
  

Installation

• 1). Put on a pair of latex gloves and compare both old and new brake-light bulbs to assure they match each other. The filament within the glass of the new brake light should connect on both sides of the metal contacts inside the bulb. If the filament appears like it's hanging or not present at all, the brake-light bulb has already failed and will not work.
  
  
• 2). Place a very fine bead of dielectric grease on the vertical metal contacts at the base of the brake-light bulb. Make sure that you place the grease on both sides of the bulb. The dielectric grease must not get on the glass of the bulb. If this happens, you must start again with a new bulb.
  
  
• 3). Insert the bulb back into its socket carefully. Push down on the bulb down gently until it is fully seated. Slowly stick the bulb back through the hole on the taillight assembly. Lock the bulb's socket in place by turning it one-quarter turn clockwise.
  
  
• 4). Plug the taillight assembly's wiring harness back up securely. The safety clip on the harness plug should make a small audible "click" to ensure proper connection. Install the taillight assembly back into its original mounting position exactly as you removed it from the truck. Before returning the two securing screws to the taillight assembly, make sure no wires protrude from it that could get pinched or frayed. Check the rubber gasket surrounding the taillight assembly for signs of dry rot or cracking. If the gasket appears damaged, replace it before you secure the taillight assembly.
  
  
• 5). Remove the electrical tape from the negative battery cable's terminal. Securely reconnect the cable back the truck's battery post with a socket wrench. Test the brake lights to assure they once again work properly. Repeat all of these steps exactly to replace your other brake light if needed.