Which type brake light switch do most of you use? In-line pressure type or machanical. I've just completed plumbing all my brake lines and then the question hit me. Not the first time I've had to back up on this project.
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40Stude

On my 36 Ford, I used a pressure switch. I now have a mechanical. Problem with pressure switches is they are at
the upper limit of electrical capacity, so they burn out real fast. Mechanical's handle a lot more amps, so they
will not burn out unless you are running real high wattage
bulbs. I just left the old switch in-line; no problem.
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36 Fordor

The pressure switch will operate a relay with no problem whatsoever! I'm sure there are probably various amperage rated types but have no way of knowing.. When I did mine, I was using 4 bulbs so I installed a small 12 vdc relay from Radium Shack that I think was rated at 10 amps and has operated fine ofer the last year pluse.
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Fred P.

my switch is a pressure one, havent had any problems yet, and its mounted in the stock location...then again my whole brake system is stock...maybe not such a good idea...hmm...
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I dig chicks that dig my cars. It all works out in the end.

I use a mechanical (plunger type) when useing a swing pedal. and pressure switch when the booster is mounted on the frame.
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awsum34

Nothing better than a good friends,good beer and street rods

If you decide on an inline switch make sure its a hi quality one with the steel casing rated for brake system line pressure. Buy it from an actual brake parts specialist, i had a supposed brake pressure switch that blew the top of it right off during a in the shop full pedal pressure test,defective casing was the problem. The p.s.i. rating is stamped on some of them.

I had a pressure one in my roadster and went to a mechanical one for a couple of reasons. It burned out a couple of times and was a pain in the ass to change! If you have a light car often the amount of pressure you need to stop it isn't enough to make the switch work and the stop lights go on, which happened to me too. With the mechanical ones you can set them and your brake lights go on as soon as you touch the pedal (good for cruisin rod runs!)

Mechanical. I think it was $12.
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Director Of Entertainment/ Recreation
Dipstick Street Rod Association
Lower Susquehanna Chapter

The thing I did not like about the pressure switch is that the brake lights were not activated until I applied a certain amount of pressure on the pedal. The mechanical switch activates them immediately. Maybe that would not have happened with one of those low pressure swtiches like Ron Francis sells.
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Lynn
'32 3W

Therapy helps, but screaming obscenities is cheaper.

I didn't care about waiting for the pressure to come up to light the stoplights either.
A mechanical switch is the way to go.

Fwiw - I don't think there is any such thing as a 'low pressure' brake switch.
A well informed NAPA store owner tells me they are all set to close the contacts at 7# pressure when new.

Using a hydraulic switch with Silicon brake fluid doesn't work either.
Eventually - in a few months - the switch won't light the stoplights until the wheels are darned near locked up.
What happens there is the Silicon fluid emigrates past the seal, gets between the contacts and effectively insulates them.
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C9

Never cared to much for the inline switches.You going to be installing cruise control? Might as well just get the electrical switch,it's be a lot easier that way.$.02
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Everyone should believe in something...
I believe I will have another beer...