Brake Switch Change?

[fun_1965_pony]

Hi All, The recent Mustang Monthly has a letter from C.J. Rousse stating that when you do a power brake conversion he found he needed a new brake switch. He says the brake lights will not come on properly otherwise. I did this conversion using SSBS this fall (front power disc brakes, rears still drum) and haven't driven the car much since (winter), so I haven't checked this out, but I also do not know what kind of switch to use. The switches I find listed on Mustangs Unlimited only have one switch for the 65, the one for power disc brakes is for a 67/68. Does anyone have more experience with this issue? I would like people to stop behind me!

Thanks for the help. ACS

 

[izzy jr]

First i've heard of this. If it's true that's good info to know for when I do my brake swap/upgrade.

 

[fun_1965_pony]

All Right, come on you all, I know you have more to say! I looked at when the lights come on and they are 1/2 way down before the tail lights come on not good! Now, does anyone have a suggetion on what switch to use? Shall I use the one for 67/68 with power disc brakes? Thanks, ACS

 

[BarnStang]

I've put in a few myself. Never heard of this either. THere is supposed to be a bushing on he pedal pin, but if you order it, and put it in thre, it makes the thing so tight, that the rod can't "move" enough to push the switch. I leave the bushing out. THat "flat" on the back of the rod has to shift back when you press the pedal to press the switch. If the busing is on the pedel pin, tr taking tha off and leave it off. You will need the correct white plastic spacer(s). DOn't confuse those with the bushing.

 

[BarnStang]

OK. I officially confused. THere are indeed brake light switches for both with and without power brakes for 67-68 and 70-73 (what about 69?)
I put the images all up on the screen from CJPonyparts.com. I can't see one discernable difference between any of them. So, not sure what to tell you. Let us know about the bushing and I just may make a call tomorrow. I would like to know what the deal is. I would hazzard a guess that the springs in the switches might be different tensions.

 

[truck90278]

We experienced the same problem and the only way to get the breaklights to work properly was to leave out the small bushing. the problem we had then was the brake pedal was loose and flopped around. We are currently rebuilding the car ('65 coupe) and installed SSBC adjustable proporting valve with the hydraulic switch, eliminating the standard switch and leaving the bushing in place. the hydraulic switch is commonly used in street rods etc. and was used in the 64 1/2 models I believe

 

[fun_1965_pony]

I don't think there is a bushing on the pedal pin, but I will need to check. The pedal does flop around, we thought we needed to bleed it some more, but perhaps there is something else going on not-quite-right? I am going to try to call Mustangs Unlimited tomorrow to see about these different switches. Is there a solution to the floppy pedal? Is the hydraulic switch something added to the standard SSBC system? We just put in the standard A120-5 for 6cyl automatic. Where did this switch come from? Thanks! ACS

 

[Grabber70Mach]

When I've done the swap from non-power to power i have changed the switch. It appears that the thickness of the spring is different. Also I have had to slightly bend each end of the flat metal part of the switch in before to get it to activate correctly. The red represents the bracket before and the blue after slight bending.

View attachment 316334

 

[fun_1965_pony]

What was the new switch you used when you went to power?

 

[Grabber70Mach]

The switch I used is made by Standard, it is a SLS67. This is also listed as a HW1194 at CJ's pony parts. It's listed as a 67-8 Brake lite switch w/pwr drum & 69-70 w/pwr drum/disc. Not sure if this is what you are looking for or not, but I hope it helps you out.

 

[fun_1965_pony]

Thanks! This is what I was looking for, it tells me that I need to put a 67 switch in my 65. I was trying to get a handle on if there was a 65 switch I should be using, but it seems that there was no power disc switch for them. I will look into the one for 67. Any input on the "floppy pedal" issue? Will I get a hard pedal if I bleed the brakes again, or is there something else going on when this conversion is done? TIA, ACS.