1988 E150 brake switch -- how does it go on?

[HomeThtrLA]

I recently replaced the power booster on my 1988 5.0 L V8 E150. I noticed when I disconnected the push rod that goes to the booster from the brake pedal that there was a little assembly on it, but it was very hard to see and I did not get its orientation correctly.

It turns out that what I thought was the brake light switch is a vacuum switch of some sort, so now I need to know or figure out how to make that little assembly work. My brake lights do not come on unless I reach behind the brake pedal and rotate that assembly forward or backward -- in essence, rotating it with some kind of cam action based on how it fits onto the power booster push rod.

I cannot, for the life of me, see a darn thing that assembly would push against, or that would stop it when the brake pedal is pushed, that would rotate it and make the brake lights come on.

I have only a Haynes Repair Manual, and it shows a nut and bolt holding the power booster pusher on, and a brake light switch between the pedal and the driver, where I thought it was...

I did figure out the left-rightness of it and it is in place, although perhaps rotated to the wrong position.

Does anybody have an idea how that assembly goes on, and what pushes against it, or what it pushes against, to turn on the brake lights?

Thanks,

Ernie

[goldenmole]

Originally Posted by HomeThtrLA

I recently replaced the power booster on my 1988 5.0 L V8 E150. I noticed when I disconnected the push rod that goes to the booster from the brake pedal that there was a little assembly on it, but it was very hard to see and I did not get its orientation correctly.

It turns out that what I thought was the brake light switch is a vacuum switch of some sort, so now I need to know or figure out how to make that little assembly work. My brake lights do not come on unless I reach behind the brake pedal and rotate that assembly forward or backward -- in essence, rotating it with some kind of cam action based on how it fits onto the power booster push rod.

I cannot, for the life of me, see a darn thing that assembly would push against, or that would stop it when the brake pedal is pushed, that would rotate it and make the brake lights come on.

I have only a Haynes Repair Manual, and it shows a nut and bolt holding the power booster pusher on, and a brake light switch between the pedal and the driver, where I thought it was...

I did figure out the left-rightness of it and it is in place, although perhaps rotated to the wrong position.

Does anybody have an idea how that assembly goes on, and what pushes against it, or what it pushes against, to turn on the brake lights?

Thanks,

Ernie

I just had a mechanic replace that for me and a guy trying to help me now with the ignition pointed this part - I do not think it pushes against anything. Do you know where the ignition switch is - I just bought one and do not know where it goes - it has connectors on one side and rounded metal on the other - 2 screw holes to mount it too.