Headlight optical axis aiming measuring apparatus and method

An apapratus for measuring a headlight optical axis aiming, comprising:

• means for measuring horizontal and vertical inclinations of a front lens surface of a headlight installed in a vehicle and producing outputs indicative of said incliantions, said measuring means comprising:
• a plurality of displacement sensors spaced from each other, and
• contacting means for coming into contact with the front lens surface, the contacting means being displaced in accordance with the inclinations of the front lens surface,
• each of said displacement sensors having a measuring rod connected to and movable with said contacting means for sensing said displacement of said contacting means when said contacting means comes into contact with said front lens surface;
• means supporting the displacement sensors;
• and
• means for determining the headlight optical axis aiming on the basis of a fixed relationship between the inclinations of a headlight optical axis and the front lens surface and said outputs from said measuring means.