Stop light staying on

[Gino]

Hi, I'm forever dealing with my brake light staying on when I park. Does not stay on while driving. I wonder if I'm missing something simple I could be doing to end the problem. Any ideas thanks

[Curtis in MA]

Mine did that. When you are moving the vibration moves everything back. I even tried the helper spring on the pedal.
The only thing that helped was taking the brakes apart and cleaning them of old dried grease. The springs in the wheel should pull the shoes together with enough force to return the pedal.

[burner31]

Don't forget to lube the cluch/brake pedal shaft

[Tacoma Bob]

May want to check out the brake light switch too.

[TomballMottershaw]

1.) lubricate the push pin on the switch.
could be a little ridge on that little push pin switch.
2.) make sure you don't have the pedal push rod adjusted too short.
3.) check for binding in linkages usually at rod trunions.
4.) are the Anti-rattler springs setup so they are pushing the pedal to the return position ?

are they generally a stock brake setup ?

[TerryH]

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deleted my useless comment

[Patrick L.]

Not much info.

Which switch do you have ? What year car ?

My thoughts are the switch. They are fairly easy to take apart and fix as long as its an original and not a repro. Most repro's are junk.

[TerryH]

Deleted my comment....

[Fred K-OR]

Originally Posted by Tacoma Bob

May want to check out the brake light switch too.

May need a new switch or just adjust it. Can do this on top of tranny.

[midgetracer]

Fred, the top of tranny adjust is only on the 28-29 A.

[Synchro909]

I’ve never been able to get one of those later style switches to work. That are a real PITA. We being RHD, even the ones that you guys mount on the gearbox are just about as useless. I mount one of the earlier switches on a bracket I make and mount on the under side of the chassis and I use a piece of very light chain to connect the pedal and switch. A solid link doesn’t work. To stop the light staying on, I often have to put a light but long spring on the back of the switch to encourage it to move all the way back to the off position. A LHD version of the spring might help you.

[Fred K-OR]

Originally Posted by midgetracer

Fred, the top of tranny adjust is only on the 28-29 A.

Opps guess that shows how much I don't know about Model A's. Also only have 29's so that may be another factor.

[updraught]

Good idea to check the guts of any brake light switch. Some of the repo ones from years ago were a bit dodgy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsfWFf80Y70

The RHD ones have a different base plate.


Always impressed by what the Model T guys get up to
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages...tml?1334538884
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages...tml?1368803500

[Gino]

I gave up on the light switches we purchase from the suppliers. I now have installed a light switch from a 67 Camaro. I made a wood console for my coffe and such and even added I warning light to alert me when the brake light sticks. All this worked great for about two plus years but now the light is sticking again. Lubed everything. So looks like I will have to do a brake cleaning. Oh well thanks all

[Bob Bidonde]

The brake return springs on the Model "A" are inadequate at best.


A solution is to add a tension spring 8.5" long x 0.63" diameter. Where the brake rod connects to the brake pedal, remove the cotter from the brake pin and connect the spring into the cotter pin hole. Connect the opposite end of the spring to back battery support post.

The spring can be bought from Home Depot.

[Jim Brierley]

Is this the one where the 'mushroom' pushes the switch off? Could be wear on that spot?

[Purdy Swoft]

It could be that the brake pedal rod isn't set up correctly. If its a 30-31 model that has the brake light switch mounted to the center cross member . Ford recommended a 1/16 gap between where the mushroom end of the pedal rod meets the brakelight switch on the inside rear of the center of the center cross member.This would also require readjustment of the service brake rods .

[Gino]

hmmmm well thanks, i will do as recommended thanks again.

[Curtis in MA]

"A solution is to add a tension spring 8.5" long x 0.63" diameter."


What gauge?

[Bob Bidonde]

A gauge that fits into the cotter pin hole of a brake rod pin.