I noticed my brake lights were not working last week when I backed into my garage. I make it a point to check my brake lights, taillights, and rear turn signals against the rear garage wall after I put Old Betsy to bed.

I have been busy. So a couple of days later I checked for loose wires, found none. But what I did find was my old brake switch on my work bench. Last fall (Oct I think) I put a new master cylinder on. And I thought why not buy one of those new low pressure brake switches from Mid-Fifty. It took about a week to get here but I put it on and enjoyed the Tootsie Rolls. The brake lights did come on sooner with the low pressure switch.

Good thing I am a pack rat, or am so tight I hate to throw things away. There was my 60 year old part in the zip lock baggie the new part came in. Tonight I put on the old one and problem solved. The brake lights work!

Has anyone else experienced this with the low pressure switch from Mid Fifty?

I will call them in the morning and I am sure they will take care of it.

 

C1AZ-13480-A (replaced 01A-13480) .. Brake Lamp Switch (Motorcraft SW-24) / Available from Ford and auto parts stores.

Applications: Myriad 1940/66 FoMoCo vehicles.

 

Thanks, Bill. My 60 year old switch is on now and working.

Has anyone else had problems with Mid-fifty brake switches or any new ones for that matter as I am sure they are all made in the same place.

 

Really common for all hydraulic brake switches. They're prone to premature failure.. Just part of the design, I guess..

 

Eight months on a truck that is not driven much?

 

Typical made in china restoration parts. I would see if something is available from NAPA or similar, or convert to a conventional electrical contact switch.

 

Definitely heard worse. Obviously the newer ones are cheaper and usually poorer quality, but it's not a great design. How often do you hear about modern brake switches going out? From what I understand, the corrosive brake fluid is really tough on the switch, causing many premature failures.

 

I bet I replaced a bejillion of them on the family's cars in the 60's, long before China started making them. It's just a high-stress environment.

I put a NAPA switch on my truck in '03, still going strong, but I doubt it's the same one sold today.

 

I will call Mid-Fifty tomorrow and also check NAPA for availability.

thanks for the help.

 

Bought a new sending unit and wiper arm from LMC. Sending unit resistance was all jacked up so sandblasted the old one and re used it, wiper arm rivet rusted in two weeks. original one still looks new. Shows they used to take pride in making things in the 50s. not like the junk today

 

I just converted from a single reservoir to a dual master cylinder eliminating the hydraulic switch. I will be putting and electrical switch on instead.

 

I called Mid Fifty on Monday. The girl I spoke to said she had to ask Sy about whether to round my money or send me a new switch. She said she would call and let me know.

I had not received a phone call, so I called Mid Fifty today. The girl I spoke to this time said a new low pressure brake switch was on the way. It was mailed out yesterday.... along with Tootsie Rolls! I knew they would make it right. I asked her if they had a lot of complaints about the switches. She said she hadn't noticed, so I am hoping it was a one off bad part.