On the K2XX Silverado the low-beam bulb is an H11 buried low and inboard on the back of the headlamp housing. You can sometimes get a hand in there on the driver side, but the passenger side is crowded by the air box and washer bottle, so most people just pull the lamp assembly: two 7 mm bolts across the top, then the housing slides forward off two locating pins. The whole job is usually under half an hour with basic hand tools.
What varies is the trim, not the engine. Base, WT, LT and most LTZ trucks are halogen with H11 low and 9005 high. Some 2016-2018 LTZ and High Country trucks have HID projector low beams with a ballast, and those need the battery disconnected first. The mistake people make is overtightening the headlamp bolts into the plastic mounting tabs and cracking them, or grabbing the new halogen bulb by the glass and killing it in a few weeks.
| Item | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrile gloves Keeps skin oil off the new halogen bulb glass, which shortens bulb life. | Safety | shop |
| Socket 7 mm 6-point, 1/4 in drive Removes the two hex-head bolts holding the top of the headlamp assembly. | Required | shop |
| Ratchet 1/4 in drive Drives the 7 mm socket in the tight space above the headlamp. | Required | shop |
| Extension 1/4 in drive, 3 in and 6 in Reaches the headlamp bolts down between the grille and radiator support. | Required | shop |
| Socket 10 mm, 1/4 in drive Some trucks use 10 mm headlamp/grille support fasteners, and it fits the battery terminal on HID trucks. | Recommended | shop |
| Trim/panel removal tool Plastic pry set Pops the plastic push-pin retainers on the radiator cover and grille trim without breaking them. | Recommended | shop |
| Flashlight or headlamp LED The bulb socket area behind the housing is dark and cramped, especially on the passenger side. | Recommended | shop |
| Screwdriver Flat blade, small Helps release the connector lock tab on the bulb harness. | Recommended | shop |
| Low-beam bulb H11 (halogen); D-series HID on some 2016-2018 LTZ/High Country The replacement bulb itself; buy in pairs so both sides match in color and output. | Parts | shop |
| High-beam bulb 9005 / HB3 Optional, but it is the same access so many people change both at once. | Parts | shop |
| Dielectric grease Silicone Small dab in the bulb connector to keep moisture and corrosion out. | Consumables | shop |
| Isopropyl alcohol wipes 70% or higher Wipe the new bulb glass if you touch it by accident. | Consumables | shop |
| Phillips screwdriver #2 Some grille and inner fender screws in front of the headlamp are Phillips. | Recommended | shop |
| 8 mm socket or nut driver 8 mm Loosens the air box/intake duct clamp for extra room on the driver side. | Recommended | shop |
The 4.3 V6, 5.3 L83 and 6.2 L86 all use the same headlamp assembly and the same 7 mm bolts, so nothing changes by engine. The difference is trim: halogen trucks use an H11 low beam, while some 2016-2018 LTZ and High Country trucks use an HID projector with a D-series bulb and ballast that requires disconnecting the battery. Driver-side access is slightly tighter on 6.2 trucks with the larger intake duct, so loosening the duct clamp with an 8 mm driver helps.
| Headlamp assembly mounting bolts (7 mm hex head) | verify in the service manual (hand-snug, roughly 40-50 lb-in) |
| Battery negative terminal nut (HID trucks) | verify in the service manual |
H11 low beam / 9005 high beam and the two 7 mm headlamp bolts are correct for halogen 2014-2018 Silverado 1500s; double-check your bulb type against the owner's manual or the old bulb, since 2016-2018 LTZ and High Country trims can have HID or LED projectors with a different bulb and procedure.
Halogen trucks use an H11 low beam and a 9005 (HB3) high beam. Some 2016-2018 LTZ and High Country models came with HID projector low beams that use a D-series bulb and a ballast instead.
Not strictly, but it is far easier. There is limited room behind the housing, especially on the passenger side, and removing the two 7 mm bolts and sliding the lamp forward takes about two minutes.
7 mm on a 1/4 in drive ratchet with a short extension. A few trucks and aftermarket housings use 10 mm, so have both handy.
Usually no, as long as the housing seats fully back on its locating pins and the bolts go in the same holes. Check the beam cutoff against a wall at night and use the vertical adjuster screw on top of the housing only if it is off.