So ive got some water coming in from the 3rd brake light and ive replaced with a cheap chinese knock off. Any suggestions for quality 3rd brake lights, seals, sealants to avoid leaking from up there?!

 

Sadly, the Ford OE ones are junk too now. They seem to have a lot of their replacement parts made in China now and they don't last. This is the second one in four years to start leaking. The seals fail and the housing cracks at the screws.

This last time I opted to seal it instead of replacing it, again. I went to Home Depot and got some GE Supreme Silicone Clear Window and Door Caulk. I cleaned everywhere I was going to apply it with isopropyl alcohol and sealed around the whole light and filled in the screw holes. It's been a couple of weeks of heavy rain and no leaks. I'll just check it every fall and spring, then reapply if necessary.

 

Year model? While out of stock, this add claims to be an updated model from Ford: https://www.ebay.com/itm/192371310030

 

The two I bought came direct from Ford through my account. They only send "updated" parts. Both had the improved seal but they were cheap, chinese crap and failed quickly.

 

Sorry that that was your experience, when mine leaked and I ordered a new one, not even an updated one, I had no more issues.

 

That's good. I'm glad yours worked. You probably got a surplus part that was made in North America and will last a decade.

I wash my cars usually once a week (except in the winter). I thought maybe the first replacement failed because I got too close to it when washing the truck with the pressure washer. But even after being careful with the second one, it still leaked again within two years. Mine are probably getting baked being on a black truck in So Cal summers. Lol.

 

Silicone caulking costs like $10 so I'm surprised people don't use it more often for this issue. Also I imagine it wouldn't be very hard or expensive to DIY a rubber gasket so maybe worth looking into.

 

If I was to do this job I would get a roll of butyl tape like 3/16 or 1/4" diameter. Apply a bead to the back of the lens and install.
The stuff will conform and seal, but if you need to remove the light later to replace a bulb it won't be such a pain. Rtv or silicone would seal it for sure, but if you prep it properly when you try to remove it it will be glued in place.

 

i ended up buying a cheap
LED replacement and used “seal all”
against the light and truck both so
ill keep an eye on it…if it fails or light takes on water ill prob get the Oem revised model and seal it as well

 

I used the 3M window tape first and it was still leaking a little. I didn't seal up the screw holes after reinstalling it so it may have been leaking there. But I was so fed up at that point I just applied silicone around it and in the screw holes and that worked. It didn't take a lot to seal around the light, so hopefully it comes off without too much effort.

After getting the leak finally sealed up and you want to remove the water stains, definitely get the . Minimal effort and it works great.