I was walking through the automotive section at my local WalMart, and I
was reminded of something I've always wondered about:  What's the
difference between 1157 bulbs and 2057?  The wattage is not listed on
either package, but if that's the difference, I'll go for the brighter
bulb.

Followup-To: rec.autos.driving

--

-todd

"People said it because other people said it.  They did not know why it
was being said and heard everywhere.  They did not give or ask for
reasons."
                      - Ayn Rand, from _Atlas Shrugged_

I used to work in an auto parts store.  If memory serves, the wattage of the
bulb is the same.  The difference is in the pins at the bottom of the bulb
that serve to anchor it.  the 1157 has two pin heights, the 2057 has one pin
height, both pins being the same distance from the bottom of the bulb.

I dunno... What do you think?  Will billary really make it  4 years?
 .sig?  Whazzat?   Have Chevy, will travel -- but you pay for gas. :-)

: I was walking through the automotive section at my local WalMart, and I
: was reminded of something I've always wondered about:  What's the
: difference between 1157 bulbs and 2057?

The specs are listed in the catalog which is _usually_*** from the
shelf on a chain somewhere nearby. I wondered the same thing and looked
them up one day; if memory serves, the 2057 is slightly higher power,
but is rated for a slightly shorter life. That figures. My guess is that
some automotive designer one day wanted to make a smaller taillight
without sacrificing visibility, perhaps, and the 2057 was born. The fact
that it burns itself out a bit quicker than the old 1157 is an
unfortunate side-effect.

: Followup-To: rec.autos.driving

Uh, why?

-- Andy

The difference is primarily the 2057 is for late model vehicle equipped with
ABS brakes. If you use an 1157 in an ABS equipped car that calls for 2057s,
the ABS dash light will come on and the ABS is disabled.

Doug