Is there a better brake light switch than the OE switch?

Mine (probably OE) failed on me the other day. I slowed to a stop at an intersection because a car two or three cars ahead of me stopped to make a left turn. A motorcyclist comes up to my drivers window and tells me he nearly plowed into my tailgate cuz I had no brake lights. It was a bad brake light switch. The truck doesn't get many miles and I know the switch was working a few months back but it had failed sometime between now and then.

Anyway, I took apart the OE switch and it seems like a junk design. I was just wondering if there was a better option.

 

Yes there is. Sort of…
Even Ford used two different types of switches on our trucks over the years.
Is yours a standard plunger type switch mounted on a separate bracket? Or is it the unique-to-Ford little square one that mounts to a stud on the pedal itself?
To be honest even though it seems a little finicky when you’re installing one for the first time, they have been stone reliable for 60 years. By that I mean they don’t fail any more often than other switches do. And they all fail eventually.
How long did yours last?

I’ve had to replace plunger switches like those used on Chevys, Fords and Dodges (and probably everything else) just as often as I’ve had to replace the Ford switch that I think you’re talking about.

That said, I’ve converted other vehicles (usually foreign) to plunger style switches that you can buy at any auto parts store. But I’ve left all the regular Ford switches on my Broncos because they’ve worked for all these years.
In 46 years I’ve only replaced one of mine.

 

One other nice thing about the plunger style, is that you can buy them in both flavors.
Where pressing it activates the switch, or extending it activates the switch. That way you can sometimes more easily find a mounting method with a particular pedal design.

Very early in my driving years I also developed a habit of whenever I am either backed up against the building, or can see a reflection of my lights in another car, shop window, or on a wall at night, I check all my lights in the back.
It’s not just switches that fail, but lightbulbs fail even more often and you have to keep an eye on things like that. It’s just a good habit to get into and doesn’t require that you have a helper every time.
I’ve had a lot more lightbulbs and brake switches fail on other brand of vehicles than I have my Fords.

One nice thing about an older Cadillac I had was that if a back light failed a little red light in the back window tray would light up.
It was in a small module that you could see in your rearview mirror but was unobtrusive. If you’re driving along and hit the brakes or turn signals and you see a little red light it told you one of your lights was out.
Great feature! :-)

 

Mine is the round plunger that mounts to the pedal. It just seemed cheesy but it probably was the original although there's no way for me to be sure.

 

If its over 50 years old, you got your moneys worth. My 70 f250 still has the original in it. Im not sure about my 72.

 

Had the motorcyclist implanted his face into my tailgate I'd say "I did not get my money's worth." There's no reason for this part to fail. And when you take it apart you see what a poor design it is.

 

You may be wrong about the brake switch being a junk part. I had to replace mine, probably original..
(hope that motorcycle rider learns to be more cautious when riding in heavy traffic).

 

Everything has a life cycle if not there would not be the need for replacements.

That guy on the bike should not have been looking for brake light but what the car / truck is doing and anything 2 or 3 in front of it.
Yes I do have a motorcycle and drive a tank trailer, HAZMAT, for a living and have not run into the back of anything in the 50 years of driving.
Dave ----

 

LOL agree with both y'all.. After I stopped I just so happened to look in my rear view mirror and saw him flailing his arms around. I thought he was pissed cuz traffic stopped but then he came up to me and was pissed cuz he nearly face planted. I felt bad.

I know the part lasted a long time but I took it apart and it just does not look like a reliable part. The design is just bass ackward to what I would think you'd want for a switch. I'm not sure I've ever had a brake light switch fail on another car.

Anyway, I only started this thread to ask if there was an upgrade for this part. Something better. That's all.

 

You sir are 100% right. Brake lights are nice but that's not what you look at. Always the next few cars in front of you, beside you, behind you. The eyes of people in cross lanes. All of that all at once. I ride as well and work for a trucking company.

 

Triple LC
Look ahead
Look around
Leave room
Communicate

If you think that switch is bad then you are lucky your truck dose not have the pressure switch that goes in the master or brake line.
Guys say they fail about every year and guess what the upgrade is for it?
YEP the vary switch you are replacing.
Dave. ----

 

Agreed, the switch is not impressive. Lasting 50 years is not impressive if the truck only has 130k. I had to replace the switch in my truck and looked for a better one but did not spend much time looking. Finding a switch that mounted the same but is a newer design would be great.

 

Point was that it is 50+ years old and its plastic. It probably cost Ford .10 cents. Its a simple design from who knows how long. I just had to go look in my 2006 Ford f350 to see if its still the same or not. Its definitely not.

 

Other point is it's junk that happened to last 50 years (maybe)

 

What manufacturer didnt use one of these plunger style brake light switches in 1970?