Replacing reverse light sockets. Any idea which Dorman part is correct for my 72 Satellite? Rockauto only has brake light sockets.

tonyp25 · Apr 14, 2025

So I believe the bulbs for the reverse lights are 1156 and brake lights are 1157 but on rockauto the only socket I see is listed as brake light. Any idea which Dorman part is right for the reverse lights? Unfortunately both my sockets have rusted out due to trapped water.

pnora · Apr 14, 2025

You can use that for a backup application. Just use the 1157 bulb and use either wire. You most likely will want the brighter filament. You can search the dorman web site for electrical socket. Measure the ID of your housings hole as some are listed as diameter specific.

71Beeper · Apr 15, 2025

Ron Francis wiring has this single filament bulb socket.

Check out their website.

Sockets & Socket Repair: Ron Francis Wiring

Wiring Harnesses, Electric Fan Controls, Accessories, Grounding, Lighting, Switches, Fuel Injection Harnesses, Wiring Aids and More!

www.ronfrancis.com

The single filament socket.

trishhritz · Sunday at 4:52 PM

71Beeper said:
Ron Francis wiring has this single filament bulb socket.

Check out their website.

http://[URL][URL][URL]https://www.ronfrancis.com/category/sockets-and-socket-repair
[/URL][/URL][/URL]

The single filament socket.
View attachment 1837087

With regards to the Ron Francis Socket which is a single filament socket, what do you do with the ground wire? Doesn't the socket for the 1156 bulb need to be grounded since there is a ground wire in the tail light harness? Who makes a socket in the right diameter with a two filaments? I don’t want to soldier anything or drill bigger holes in my tail light assembly’s There must be another option. Anyone?

toolmanmike · Sunday at 4:56 PM

trishhritz said:
With a single filament socket, what do you do with the ground wire? Doesn't the socket for the 1156 bulb need to be grounded since there is a ground wire in the tail light harness. Who make a socket in the right diameter with a two filament socket? Anyone.

The socket should ground through the housing

trishhritz · Sunday at 7:03 PM

toolmanmike said:
The socket should ground through the housing

The housing the socket is pressed into is plastic…….

toolmanmike · Sunday at 7:05 PM

trishhritz said:
The housing the socket is pressed into is plastic…….

You must be talking about the one in post #3?

72RoadrunnerGTX · Sunday at 8:51 PM

For 2DR ‘72s, as mentioned, the original sockets were mounted/crimped into an all-plastic housing and grounded via wires in the tail lamp harnesses. Also, the sockets and related wiring were externally sealed against water intrusion, something not available from most currently available aftermarket socket offerings.

trishhritz · Thursday at 2:48 PM

72RoadrunnerGTX said:
For 2DR ‘72s, as mentioned, the original sockets were mounted/crimped into an all-plastic housing and grounded via wires in the tail lamp harnesses. Also, the sockets and related wiring were externally sealed against water intrusion, something not available from most currently available aftermarket socket offerings.
View attachment 1888092

Thank you, 72 RoadrunnerGTX. However, my problem remains. I have searched so many data bases and 1972 Plymouth filters only bring up the 1157 sockets for the stop/turn signals which get pressed into the 1 1/8” holes of the 1972 taillight assembly. I have found for the 1156 grounded sockets that fit into the 3/4” opening for the back-up lights. It’s irritating that if you ask at any parts store, they try to sell you the 1157 sockets……. and the (the parts store guys) do not believe me there was ever made like I am requesting, like I’m stupid and didn’t do my research. It’s almost like the data for the 1972 OEM back-up lamp sockets (Mopar part # 2983 279) fell off the face of the earth.

This is one source I did find for Standard Motor Parts - https://www.smpbuyersguide.com/standard/Wiring-Pigtails-and-Sockets-Guide/C - it has a bulb to socket reference chart in the last few pages. However, the chart lacks details on the diameter opening that the sockets are intended to be pressed into. Most of the 1156 sockets are definitely not OEM in appearance and usually have only one wire and require grounding (alteration) while the two wire varieties do not have details on the diameter opening.

At the auto parts stores, I was originally sold (sight unseen because they had to be shipped from other stores) the SMP S-75, and they turned out to be the exact sockets needed for the stop, tail lights, only the ground tabs were intact, unlike the one I removed. As for the 1156 back-up sockets (mopar part # 2983 279), feel like I’m striking out getting something close to OEM and not too expensive, either. So I am settling on using the SMP S-89 sockets since they appear to be the closest to OEM with a ground wire, but the back-up lamp socket hole in the plastic assembly needs to be cut out to 1 1/8”.

72RoadrunnerGTX · Thursday at 3:04 PM

trishhritz said:
Thank you, 72 RoadrunnerGTX. However, my problem remains. I have searched so many data bases and 1972 Plymouth filters only bring up the 1157 sockets for the stop/turn signals which get pressed into the 1 1/8” holes of the 1972 taillight assembly. I have found for the 1156 grounded sockets that fit into the 3/4” opening for the back-up lights. It’s irritating that if you ask at any parts store, they try to sell you the 1157 sockets……. and the (the parts store guys) do not believe me there was ever made like I am requesting, like I’m stupid and didn’t do my research. It’s almost like the data for the 1972 OEM back-up lamp sockets (Mopar part # 2983 279) fell off the face of the earth.

This is one source I did find for Standard Motor Parts - https://www.smpbuyersguide.com/standard/Wiring-Pigtails-and-Sockets-Guide/C - it has a bulb to socket reference chart in the last few pages. However, the chart lacks details on the diameter opening that the sockets are intended to be pressed into. Most of the 1156 sockets are definitely not OEM in appearance and usually have only one wire and require grounding (alteration) while the two wire varieties do not have details on the diameter opening.

At the auto parts stores, I was originally sold (sight unseen because they had to be shipped from other stores) the SMP S-75, and they turned out to be the exact sockets needed for the stop, tail lights, only the ground tabs were intact, unlike the one I removed. As for the 1156 back-up sockets (mopar part # 2983 279), feel like I’m striking out getting something close to OEM and not too expensive, either. So I am settling on using the SMP S-89 sockets since they appear to be the closest to OEM with a ground wire, but the back-up lamp socket hole in the plastic assembly needs to be cut out to 1 1/8”.

For OE, those sockets were never meant to be serviced individually, were only available as part of the entire housing with wiring, one part number for left, one for right. Mainly do to the fact that the wiring and socket needed to be watertight to the housing.

Replacing reverse light sockets. Any idea which Dorman part is correct for my 72 Satellite? Rockauto only has brake light sockets.

tonyp25

Well-Known Member

pnora

FBBO Gold Member

71Beeper

Well-Known Member

Sockets & Socket Repair: Ron Francis Wiring

trishhritz

1972 Scarlet Sue

toolmanmike

Henchman #2

trishhritz

1972 Scarlet Sue

toolmanmike

Henchman #2

72RoadrunnerGTX

FBBO Gold Member

trishhritz

1972 Scarlet Sue

72RoadrunnerGTX

FBBO Gold Member

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