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Electrical/Mechanical Brake Switch
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jaransonT3
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Joined: January 01, 2005
Posts: 1260
Location: Dearborn, MI
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:44 pm    Post subject: Electrical/Mechanical Brake Switch Reply with quote

Recently found out that Sophy's brake lights were only coming on when I really pushed hard on the brake peddle. I could actually stop quite quickly without the brake lights coming on. Almost had to stand on the pedal to get them to activate. Seems the electric/hydraulic switches on the master cylinder had stopped working well.

So.....I have been meaning to switch over to an electric/mechanical switch acting on the pedal (like modern cars) for some time. Well I finally tackled the job tonight. I picked up a neat little Normally Open/Common/Normally Closed switch from the electronics crib at work a while ago just for this purpose. Check out the pictures of my installation.

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I bent up a little bracket for the switch out of some sheetmetal and attached it to the vertical panel under the angled toe board covering the pedal assembly. The switch is attached to this bracket with its own little adjustable bracket. The little roller on the switch arm hits the brake pedal and trips the switch. I only had to unplug the wire going from the MC to the brake lights and plug it into one side of the switch. The other side of the switch got connected to the wire coming off of the fuse panel taht normally would go down to the MC switches. I adjusted the switch bracket so that the switch closes with maybe 1/4" of pedal movement. Way before the brakes are even starting to engage.

Seems to work very nicely. I did have to clearance the angled toe board a little to clear the switch and bracket. The carpet did not need to be cut. I am a little concerned about the switch getting wet during use.....from stuff dripping off my shoes. I will look into making a small shield for it or maybe just coat the connections with grease.

Let me know what you think. I will get specifics of the switch tomorrow if anyone is interested. Forgot to write them down before installing.
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Later,
John Jaranson
'66 Square
'69 Square
'70-1 Fasty
https://www.carartbyjohn.com
https://www.carartbyjohn.com/2024Invasion/
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Tram
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Joined: May 02, 2003
Posts: 22697
Location: Still Feelin' the Bern- Once you've felt it you can't un- feel it.
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

John, that's a great idea, but how will ice/ snow/ rain dripping off your boots affect it? I remember the pedals in my square getting badly encapsulated in ice during the winters I spent in Ohio! Shocked
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jaransonT3
Samba Member


Joined: January 01, 2005
Posts: 1260
Location: Dearborn, MI
jaransonT3 is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tram wrote:
John, that's a great idea, but how will ice/ snow/ rain dripping off your boots affect it? I remember the pedals in my square getting badly encapsulated in ice during the winters I spent in Ohio! Shocked


I AM concerned a little about water from my shoes......but Sophy won't see snow/ice/salt anymore. I wouldn't recommend this set-up for a daily driven car in the winter in the snow/salt regions of the country, unless you can find a water-proof sealed switch.

The advantage most modern cars have is that the pedals are hung from above on the IP beam. Keeps these switches out of the elements.
_________________
Later,
John Jaranson
'66 Square
'69 Square
'70-1 Fasty
https://www.carartbyjohn.com
https://www.carartbyjohn.com/2024Invasion/
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