Stop Light switch short 95' G10

I have a 1995 G10 van made in Aug. of that year. So it has some 96' parts; the "stop Light" switch is one of them. The wires were bent over and two of them had splits on the wire next to the connector. I have taken then out and repolace those pins and reinstalled the Connector to the switch; however ther is a 2.5 inch cynlinder with a 1/8 inch stell cable coming out and going up the steering Column. It also has two wires coming out of the side of it. The light worked fine for abit then the "black cynlinder" started clicking again and no brake lights. Soemtimes they will work; so i am wondering if the Clicking could be a short in that device going up the steering column. Anyone run into this problem before?:banghead: