If you are running a 2007 to 2015 Chevy Silverado (or the matching Tahoe and Suburban), swapping the dim factory fog lights for something with real output is one of the best upgrades you can make. In this guide we walk through the exact process we used to complete a Morimoto XB LED fog light install Silverado owners can follow at home. We tested the fit, pulled the front end apart, transferred the factory hardware, and reassembled everything so the new lights aimed just like they came from the factory. Below is our full breakdown along with the video we filmed during the install.
What We Installed and Why
The product we worked with is the Morimoto XB LED Fog Light for ’07-’15 Silverado 1500. It is designed to drop right into the stock fog light location of the 2007 to 2015 Silverado, and the housing goes into the same factory plastic bucket you already have on the truck. Once everything is reassembled, the new lights plug and play directly into the stock harness, so there is no splicing or cutting required on the electrical side.
If your truck uses the round-style fog opening, take a look at the Chevrolet round-style Morimoto XB LED fog lights instead, since fitment varies by body and bumper style. Tahoe owners in particular should confirm the correct part, and the Tahoe (07-14) XB LED fog light housings page is a good reference. You can also grab the same Silverado 1500 fog light kit at Headlight Revolution if you prefer.
Tools and Prep
Before you start, gather a 15mm socket, a 7mm socket, an 11mm socket, a flathead screwdriver, and a pair of needle nose pliers. The 11mm socket is the trick that made removing the stock retaining darts far less frustrating, and we will cover that in detail below. Set aside a little extra time because the cleanest way to do this job involves taking the front end apart.
Step 1: Remove the Front Bumper for Access
We tried to find a shortcut, but honestly there was no good way around it. The easiest path to getting the fog lights out is to take the front end of the truck apart. That means removing the headlights, the grille, the plastic fairing along the top of the bumper, and then the bumper itself. Yes, it adds time to the job, but it makes the actual fog light swap dramatically easier because the housings are buried deep in the bumper from the factory.
Step 2: Mark Your Lines Before Anything Comes Apart
This is the single most important tip we can give you. Before you remove the bumper support, draw yourself some reference lines on the adjustable mounting holes. These holes are slotted for adjustment, so if you do not mark them, you will lose your factory aim. We also marked the top fairing line so we could contour everything back into the exact same position. Taking two minutes to mark these points saves a lot of guesswork at reassembly and keeps your fog light aiming correct.
Step 3: Remove the Bumper Support
With the bumper off, the fog light and its plastic housing are held to a bumper support. Rather than fight the fog light out in place, we pulled the whole bumper support so the housing came out with it. The support is held on by 15mm bolts, two on top and two on the bottom on each side. There are no nuts on the back side to worry about, because these bolts thread into clips that hold everything in place. They came off easily once we knew where they all were.
Step 4: Separate the Fog Light Bucket from the Support
Once the bumper support and fog light were out as a unit, we flipped it over to separate the plastic housing bucket from the support. The bucket is secured with three 7mm screws. Again, we marked the tabs on both sides before removing anything, because this piece controls how the fog light lines up with the front of the bumper. If you do not mark it, the housing can end up sitting too far in or out and it will not line up with your bumper fairing when you go to reassemble.
There is also a front fascia piece attached to the bucket held on with additional 7mm screws. We removed those, popped the clips, and the front piece came off, giving us access to the actual fog light itself.
Step 5: Release the Stock Retaining Darts
Here is where the 11mm socket earns its keep. Looking at the back of the fog light, you will find three adjusting darts holding it into the plastic housing. Each dart has four little claws that all have to be pushed in at the same time, which is a genuine pain by hand. What worked for us was slipping an 11mm socket over each dart, which is just small enough to compress all the claws at once. Then we pushed a screwdriver in from the front to get it started, and the darts released so we could pull the fog light out.
Step 6: Transfer the Darts and Adjuster Tab
The Morimoto XB LED housing is built to use your factory hardware, which is why fitment is so clean. After removing the stock fog light, you will notice the darts stay on the old housing. Those darts pull right off, and you transfer them onto the corresponding plugs on the back of the new Morimoto XB LED housing so it fits the original plastic bucket. Do the same with the adjuster tab: unscrew the adjuster all the way out, then use needle nose pliers to squeeze the little clip on the bottom together and pop it out, and it snaps right back into place on the new light.
One detail we appreciated: there is a slot on the bottom of each dart, and The Retrofit Source and Morimoto machined a matching line on the housing so the darts line up and will not spin on you. That small touch made reinstalling the light back into the plastic housing very smooth.
Step 7: Insert the New Housing into the Plastic Bucket
With all the darts and the adjuster transferred, we slid the Morimoto XB LED light back into the plastic housing and pushed the darts through. The mounting posts line up nearly identical to the stock ones, so it pushes right back into place the way the factory light did. Looking at the back, you can confirm the darts are seated through just like they were with the original fog light.
Step 8: Reassemble in Reverse
Now it all goes back together in reverse. Reinstall the front fairing piece, then bolt the fog light housing back into the bumper support, lining it up with the marks you drew earlier. We double-checked both sides against our reference lines. Then the bumper support goes back into the bumper, again lined up with our marks, and the 15mm bolts go back in (two on top, one on each side down low). Because we marked everything, the fog lights ended up sitting exactly along the lines we had drawn.
Step 9: Reinstall the Front End and Plug In
With the fog lights secured, put the rest of the front end back together, reinstall the bumper, and then plug the lights in. They plug and play directly into the stock harness on your truck, so there is nothing else to wire. That concludes the manual portion of the install.
Final Thoughts on Aiming
Because we marked every adjustable point before disassembly, our aim came back nearly perfect. If you want to fine-tune your output after the install, our step-by-step headlight aiming guide covers the fundamentals that apply to fog lights as well. And if you are considering upgrading other lighting on the truck, browse the full lineup of LED projector fog lights to see what fits your platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vehicles fit the Morimoto XB LED fog light housings shown in this video?
The video covers installation on 2007 to 2015 Chevy Silverado, and the title also lists Tahoe and Suburban models from 2007 and up.
Do you need to remove the front bumper to install these fog lights?
Yes, the installer explains that removing the headlights, grille, top fairing, and bumper is the easiest way to access and swap the fog light housings, even though it adds time to the job.
Do the Morimoto XB LED fog lights use the stock mounting hardware?
Yes, the stock retaining darts and the adjuster tab are removed from the factory fog light and transferred onto the new Morimoto XB LED housing so it fits the original plastic bucket.
Will the new fog lights plug into the factory wiring harness?
Yes, according to the installer, once everything is reassembled the new lights plug and play directly into the stock truck harness.
How do you keep the fog light aimed correctly during reinstallation?
The installer recommends marking the adjustable mounting holes and the top fairing line before disassembly so the housing and bumper support can be reinstalled in the exact same position.
Meet the Experts Behind The Retrofit Source
Tyler Jordan – Technical Writer
Tyler works directly with the TRS product R&D team, bringing over a decade of automotive aftermarket lighting experience to every article. An avid enthusiast with hundreds of personal installations under his belt, his content is built on hands-on knowledge from the workbench, not spec sheets.
Caleb Morgan – Marketing Manager
Caleb brings over a decade of automotive lighting industry experience and works with TRS customers daily on the front lines. With hundreds of personal lighting installations and a direct feedback loop from real buyers, his content addresses the questions and problems that actually matter.
