88' T Bird Brake Switch

[phyuck yiu]

Hi there. Hoping you might be able to help me out. I have a question about my 88' TBird's brake light switch. I replaced it with a new one due to intermittent no brake lights. But in replacing it I must have missed something. With the brake "plunger" in between the switch "blades" it mounts onto the brake pedal "post". Then a cotter pin type clip holds the whole assembly on the brake arm post through a hole in it. But what makes the physical pressure that causes the switch to depress and activate the lights? I can't figure it out, ...unless I dropped something. There is a white washer that goes on the left side of the switch that the cotter pin goes over and a black plastic sleeve that inserts into the brake plunger before you put it into the switch "blades". I have the wires on the connector properly because I can activate the lights by pressing the switch manually in my hand. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Scota4570]

I had the same problem on my '89. Put the new one in the way the old one came out. It does not look like it will work but, it will. It uses micro movement from the slop in the pin fit but, don't try to understand it, it'll drive you crazy.

[phyuck yiu]

Wow. You know you're right! I spent the whole night trying to figure out how that would work after reinstalling it the wrong way yesterday. It's so tight under there unless you're as small as a kid you can't possible see what makes that thing work, but when you put it back on the same way it comes off, it works! Thanks for the reply..!