2000 Plymouth voyager brake lights

The brakes light just stopped working, but the parking lights still work. I talked to a friend who told me that people bring this model in all the time with brake light problems. He told me to remove the light bulbs and pinch the medal together inside the light sockets. I did this and it worked on one side. I continued messing with the other and it started working, but my lights just went out again 3 months later! He says it is a defect in some dodge and plymouth models. Does anyone know anything else about this, or an easier way to fix it? I don't know if I can buy the light sockets? I have just seen the covers for sale?