[DeTomaso] Brake Switch Frustration

Wed Apr 22 10:46:45 EDT 2009

John,

It is odd that you have had so many failures.
When I upgraded my brake system, I bought the common USA switch.  Common to
more than 30 years of US cars.  The stock one still worked after 30+ years,
but the threads were different and didn't fit the new junction block.

I'm sure you have already reviewed my article:

http://www.provamo.com/Members/TechInfo/BrakeMasterUpgrade.asp

So this link is for others.

I've heard of a number of people that have added a (non-fluid) switch by
drilling one hole in the pedal bracket and extending the wires to fit.

I hope you have better luck with this, as something is weird with your
failures.

Chuck

I am giving up on the stock Pantera brake switch.  I've got five of them in
a drawer that I have accumulated during my years of Pantera ownership.  I
had another fail recently.

I've tried to stay true to the original brake light design and dutifully
have called a Pantera vendor to replace each one that failed.  However, I am
throwing in the towel and going to an alternative that would be more
reliable.

I have disassembled the switch units to try and find a consistent failure
point, but I have been unsuccessful determining a single culprit.  As one
may know, this is a part in which the inspection process is one way. After
you cut it open, there is no reassembly.  That is a shame, I could probably
make a few that would work from my inventory.

I imagine others must have taken this journey before me and switched to a
non-fluid pressure mechanical method.  I would appreciate your lessons
learned.

It appears to me that a practical approach would be to mount a switch
through the chassis panel that on my car is in the footwell about an inch
above the brake pedal arm.  It seems possible to mount a switch in that
location that would be depressed when the pedal is at rest and be released
as the pedal is actuated.  Thus, it would offer no continuity when depressed
and continuity when released.

Is anyone using this set-up?  Also, if so, do you have a switch part number?
It would certainly save me time going through the NAPA parts catalogs.

Of course, I am open to other approaches as well.

Thanks
JT
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