NOS Brake light switch

[Winston]

Hi all,
Just replaced what may have been the original brake light switch on the TR4A.
Had a "new" plastic switch on the shelf from a past order. It works but I know it's junk and it looks really tacky at the end of the master cylinder. Any body know a source for the original metal switch? The parts houses in town carry a hydraulic screw type that could be adapted but.......
The big three are all the same, plastic.

 

[Alan_Myers]

Hi,

I picked up a good, used one a while back, but don't think anyone is making them in metal any longer. All the replacements seem to be only available in plastic, even if in Lucas packaging.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[Guest]

Not wanting to hijack you thread, but the brakelight switch on the TR6 has got to be the worst design ever. Or maybe it is the aftermarket replacements that are so bad. I keep extras(pl) in my cubby.


Bill

 

[jerrybny]

Unfortunely metal is becoming a thing of the past. Everything is cheap plastic these days. Cheaper to manufacture and it assures the part makers of return business as plastic will never last as long as metal. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[martx-5]

Actually, plastic lasts much longer the most metals, especially ferrous metals. Plastics in landfills will be around for about as long as the it takes for the spent nuclear fuel to degrade. If properly designed, a plastic switch or whatever, should be as good, if not better then a metal switch. But there's the rub, they aren't designed correctly. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif

The real problem is that if you want a concours type resto, you have to hunt down the original type switch. Even if it's not concours, plastic stuff just isn't in spirit with the period the car was manufactured. It is a dilemma.

 

[jerrybny]

Good quality plastic parts may be good but alot of the replacement parts are being produced in 3rd world countries. I can't count how many "Plastic pieces" I have broken over the years on the many cars I have owned. Metal is much more forgiving when assembling or disassembling auto parts. Also try fixing a stripped plastic nut that they like to use now days on dashes, doors, etc. I will take metal any day over plastic. I had a 59 Ford that you could bounce off a sea wall at 4 miles an hour and no damage execpt for scratches.(Ask me how I know lol). Try that with one of the modern cars with space age plastics and composites. Sorry to ramble but I grew up with cars that were made of metal parts and in my humble opinion they were better than those made today. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[PeterK]

My 3A stop switch only works if I push the pedal to the floor. Can this be cleaned or should I replace it? Kinda dangerous in a 3 w/o stop lights since I never need to push the pedal hard enough to light it up.

 

[Geo Hahn]

[ QUOTE ]
I picked up a good, used one a while back, but don't think anyone is making them in metal any longer. All the replacements seem to be only available in plastic, even if in Lucas packaging.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I was thinking the (TR4/4A) originals were made by Delco (in England). This is the gray switch, maybe 1" square and 1/2" thick.

 

[Winston]

Geo,
You're correct the original is a Delco part. I actually found a part at the local NORTHERN Store for 5$ that I thought might work. The threads however are larger, that I can handle, but the throw is about 1/4" to long which does not allow the brake light to disengage.
My brother-in-law is CFO of a large electrical wholesaler here in town. We're going to the warehouse this weekend original part in hand and see what we can find.
With any luck I just may stumble on an aftermarket part that everyone would find quite satisfactory.
Maybe I can become a vendor of the brake light switch, and become a warrior over the Lord of Darkness.

 

[4aNot4]

[ QUOTE ]
Actually, plastic lasts much longer the most metals, especially ferrous metals. Plastics in landfills will be around for about as long as the it takes for the spent nuclear fuel to degrade. If properly designed, a plastic switch or whatever, should be as good, if not better then a metal switch. But there's the rub, they aren't designed correctly. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif



[/ QUOTE ]

I agree that plastic outlasts ferrous metals in a landfill. The problem with plastic is that it seems to get brittle after a few years and cracks etc. I prefer the metal parts...