Gud point Larry! Im going to get one ASAP and hope that is the problem. That's the simplest and easy way to go at it. Will post results..
I have aftermarket power brakes is this why the previous owner shimmed mine?Which one would be the correct switch for power dis brakes?
I am not sure how it would all work with an aftermarket system. On a Maverick....even the brake light wire "plug" that goes to the switch is different so they can't be interchanged.
the difference in the switches that ive seen is the spring. power brakes needs a softer spring than manual brakes. i would think that the power brake switches would work ok with manual brakes. ive had power brake fords that would turn on the brake lights till your pushing hard on the pedal. it was really hard to find a switch with a soft enough spring for those. i think i ended up finding used junk yard switches to get it to work right.
Don't think the switch is the problem! When driving the car the brake lite seems to come on better than when the car is stationary. I order a new sw today - shipping was as much as the part. Anyway, I feel better that I know the lite comes on abt 1/2 way in when the vechicle is in motion. Still wud like to figure out a way to come on abt 1/4 travel.
would an adjustable rod (longer) in the M/C help? I have an adjustable one, you can get them from Mustang unlimited...
I agree w/ Larry on this one. I don't think the rod length has anything to do w/ activating the lites. I believe that is determined by design factors frm the Ford engineering dept. I believe moving the pedal down farther wud dictate moving the sw bracket to correspond or the brk lites wud stay on. I do have the brake rod u mentioned - just been to lazy to install it. I like Kruizing more then wrenching -- or -- I suppose it wud have been installed. I am not sure of the question "ARE THE BRAKE LITES APPLIED AT THIS TIME... As I stated a few post earlier; the lites seem to come on sooner when the car is in motion. The problem is, you have no way of knowing this unless u have a lite up in the area where u can see it while driving. I was suprised to see the lites come on sooner while in motion vs stationery. Anyway, I hope to post some pic of the install soon. I am still in the process of disguising/hiding wiring as best I can.
the spring in the switch is what is controlling when the light turns on. the spring is pushing the push rod forward and the pedal back. when you push the pedal every thing starts moving together. when the pedal force against the switch exceeds the spring force against the push rod, the switch starts closing and turns on the lights. if you were to lighten the spring tension it would activate the lights earlier
Bryant is correct. Look at the switches on the top in the pic on the other page and you can see different springs. The C9 and D1 spring has more coils and will be a softer spring than the E3-E9 springs. I'm guess like most aftermarket replacement parts we get today the manufactures make "one size fits all" part. This can be seen it the pic that I posted on the 1st page the "new" switch has only 5 coils instead of 8 or 9 coils.
