Brake Lights stay on
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Oak Harbor WA
Brake Lights stay on
All,
Did some mountain driving
and when I got home, noticed my brake lights were still on 
A simple toe lift under the brake pedal fixed the symptoms, but twice this week I've notice the brake lights still on. Again, a simple lift (< 1/2" travel) of the brake pedal and the lights go out.
Looking under the dash and hoping to find a weak return spring, I instead see the brake pedal pushes an actuator wrapped in a corrugated rubber sleeve, thru the firewall to the power brake booster. Before I dive in, is there a return force adjuster, or a return spring wrapped in there that can be adjusted/replaced? How much work am I looking at to fix?
Did some mountain driving
and when I got home, noticed my brake lights were still on A simple toe lift under the brake pedal fixed the symptoms, but twice this week I've notice the brake lights still on. Again, a simple lift (< 1/2" travel) of the brake pedal and the lights go out.Looking under the dash and hoping to find a weak return spring, I instead see the brake pedal pushes an actuator wrapped in a corrugated rubber sleeve, thru the firewall to the power brake booster. Before I dive in, is there a return force adjuster, or a return spring wrapped in there that can be adjusted/replaced? How much work am I looking at to fix?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Oak Harbor WA
Yeller,
Thanks, but the brake light switch works properly and is adjusted for the correct pedal travel. Unfortunately, my brake pedal isn't "returning" as far as it use to before the mountaing driving trip. I'd like to fix the brake pedal return travel, then adjust the light actuating switch later, if needed.
Thanks, but the brake light switch works properly and is adjusted for the correct pedal travel. Unfortunately, my brake pedal isn't "returning" as far as it use to before the mountaing driving trip. I'd like to fix the brake pedal return travel, then adjust the light actuating switch later, if needed.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
I had the same problem on my '68; a very tired pedal return spring after years of use. The actual spring is way up at the top of the pedal and difficult to get to. My fix was to purchase a generic spring from my local hardware store. It was about 1/4" in diameter and had straight ends. I drilled a small hole through the pedal arm and ran the spring from there to the back of the dash. The free end was secured to one of the screws holding my wiper/headlight override switch bracket. It works like a charm and cannot be seen.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,391
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
There is no return spring on the brake pedal - its position is determined by the master cylinder. You need to adjust your brake light switch. Simply push the switch to engage the switch plunger slightly deeper (more engagement) towards the brake pedal. The switch will "ratchet" on its retaining "threads" as you push and wiggle it into position. Takes less than 15 seconds to do.
