When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm adding a pressure activated brake switch. I'm placing it in one of the brake lines coming off of the master cylinder. Which line should I splice it in? The 3/16 or the 1/4? There shouldn't be any difference in using either one. Is this correct ?
Craig
I got the parts together today. Flared a new 1/4" rear brake line about six inches down and added the fittings to put in the switch.
Last edited by Street Rat; Sep 11, 2018 at 01:18 PM.
I have a spare 3/16" brake line here also.
I haven't started working on the car at this point.
I'll fab a 3/16" brake line with the switch in it.
I will have to bleed the front brakes after the installation of the new brake line.
I've already got the car up so I can get to the combination valve connection.
Well I'm waffling again. The 1/4" line that I made is just the right length. I'm going to stick with using that line rather then make a new 3/16" line. It looks like a little bit more room to work with the rear line also.
How do you make sure you don't trap air in the dead-end and make your brakes spongy? Mount it facing down?
I'm hoping that bleeding will get the air out. I can tap on it some to dislodge any air bubbles. Other than that I guess I'll have to see what happens after the bleeding process.
So I am curious.
What is the purpose of this switch?
Thanks
My brake lights were staying on. The problem was the return spring was weak. I don't know how I could possibly get to it. Even with the column out.
The switch would have activated the brake lights by hydraulic pressure. The new hydraulic switch would replace the electrical switch at the pedal. So no more pedal drag on the electrical brake switch.
Last edited by Street Rat; Nov 3, 2018 at 04:39 PM.
My brake lights were staying on. The problem was the return spring was weak. I don't know how I could possibly get to it. Even with the column out.
The switch would have activated the brake lights by hydraulic pressure. The new hydraulic switch would replace the electrical switch at the pedal. So no more pedal drag on the electrical brake switch.
Fix the return spring or just add another one so that the pedal comes back on its own. Excuse my "French", but doing what you are doing is just goofy in response to the real problem you have. Suppose you go ahead with your plan and sometime later, the seal on the master cylinder plunger fails on the side where you have that switch plumbed. That side won't build pressure and you won't have any brake lights!!! Is that how you want this to work???
Brake lights should come on whenever the brake PEDAL is depressed....without exception (unless you want to get rear-ended when you have a failure of the M/C or that switch).
Fix the return spring or just add another one so that the pedal comes back on its own. Excuse my "French", but doing what you are doing is just goofy in response to the real problem you have. Suppose you go ahead with your plan and sometime later, the seal on the master cylinder plunger fails on the side where you have that switch plumbed. That side won't build pressure and you won't have any brake lights!!! Is that how you want this to work???
Brake lights should come on whenever the brake PEDAL is depressed....without exception (unless you want to get rear-ended when you have a failure of the M/C or that switch).
Give the guy a break, will you?
Pressure activated brake light switches are in millions of USA cars. Mainly an old usage but still not a "goofy" idea.
A quick search came up with this.
Peace
When i first saw this thread i didnt post because i didnt have anything to add,
But my thought what a cool fix, as im no real fan of how gm did it, i love threads that think outside the box.
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Don't Rube Goldberg it up!
Yes! Those hydraulic switches were popular from back in the thirties but the master cylinders were single reservoir.
Your Corvette has a duel reservoir M/C.
If you don't know how to fix the spring bring the car to a C3 repair shop and let them fix it.