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Brake light switch

Posted: February 2, 2012, 11:48 am
by Blackwaterforge
After replacing the pressure switch a couple of times I added a mechanical brake light switch from a 1976 Ford F-250.
I made a bracket from 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 16 gauge angle iron 1 1/4 long.
I put a .250 x .750 slot in one web and a .500 x .750 slot in the other web.
It was easy to fabricate ( a hour and a half including wiring and installation) and it required no modifications to the brake pedal.
I installed it in the slot where the brake pedal stop goes.
Do I need to add abrade pedal stop to the bracket?
Thank You!

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Re: Brake light switch

Posted: February 2, 2012, 12:08 pm
by ICEMAN6166
i mounted mine in the hole the rubber stop was in. instead of using the thin nuts i replaced them with regular size fine thread nuts.

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you probably have these pedals, either way the rubber stop is already there

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Re: Brake light switch

Posted: February 2, 2012, 3:56 pm
by andgott
Looks like the same switch that I used, I used a slightly different bracket-

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Yours looks a lot cleaner!

It has worked great so far- The previous owner had NO stop lights, he replaced the old master cylinder with a dual, and just never bothered to wire a switch of any kind... All the 'upgrades' were to make the truck go faster- Nothing to slow it or stop it!!

-Andrew

Re: Brake light switch

Posted: February 2, 2012, 5:03 pm
by William-in-St George
Sheesee! Blackwater Forge!!! Serious craftsmanship there. Hope you don"t mind I will steal that idea. Very nice.

Re: Brake light switch

Posted: February 2, 2012, 5:43 pm
by Blackwaterforge
Thats why I included the measurements. I have received so much help from the guys on this site if anyone can use one of my ideas your welcome to it! :thumright:

Re: Brake light switch

Posted: February 4, 2012, 8:43 pm
by cosmo
Perfect Timing Blackwaterforge!
I have no break lights and I need to do this ASAP.
I have a question or two.
Your picture is not clear to me especially when I compare it to Iceman's. You both mention using the slot for the rubber stop.
Looking at Iceman's pics, which are out to the truck, where should I put the switch? The rubber stop is on the pedal and your pick looks like the braket you made is on the pedal mount. Can you talk me though it in a little more detail
And what was the final answer to your question of wether or not you needed to keep the rubber stop?
Thanks for your tips and for your help!

Re: Brake light switch

Posted: February 4, 2012, 11:04 pm
by cavinandpavin
i welded a piece of tubing to the nut on the brake light switch to act as a stop so the stress of stopping the pedal dosent go on the plastic housing of the switch.

Re: Brake light switch

Posted: February 4, 2012, 11:25 pm
by ICEMAN6166
the purpose of the rubber stop is noise control
if theres no rubber the pedal arm and bracket will "clink" when they contact each other

since my brake light switch is nylon, there is no noise when the pedal is realeased and comes back up.

i will add one note
in the many years i have been on this forum i have seen many different bracket designs.
i prefer the ones where the switch is not attached to the pedal arm where wiring then moves with the pedal.

also i find it unusual that the blacksmith had to replace several pressure type switches, my 66 4x4 has had the same one for over 10 years with no problems and the one on my wifes 66 has worked fine since i cleaned the contacts the day we bought the truck at least 6 years ago.

the only reason i put the mechanical one in the bumper hole was because when i built the truck it was on a 72 frame and it did not have the tee to install the pressure type switch.

Re: Brake light switch

Posted: February 5, 2012, 10:12 am
by bobenhotep
I installed mine behind the instrument panel to work off of the bumpstop bar.

9009

Re: Brake light switch

Posted: February 6, 2012, 8:47 am
by Blackwaterforge
ICEMAN6166 wrote:i will add one note
in the many years i have been on this forum i have seen many different bracket designs.
i prefer the ones where the switch is not attached to the pedal arm where wiring then moves with the pedal.
X2


My pedal stop is different.
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Mine is a shoulder bolt with a piece of rubber tubing slid over it.
It was in a slot and appears to be factory.

Re: Brake light switch

Posted: February 6, 2012, 11:52 am
by ICEMAN6166
that is factory.

guess i was not specific.

yours is 65/66 2wd

mine is 61-54 and 4x4, f350