98 Explorer parking brake light and brake itself

[Bugeye60]

My parking brake light will not go out even though the brake is released. I figure it's a worn switch contact but I can't find the point at which the brake pedal arm makes contact with the switch. The parking brake itself is apparently worn but I also can't find where the pad(s) is. The rear brakes are disk.

Oh heck, let's talk about dash lights. Big effort to replace? Thanks.

[shorod]

Well, the parking brake and brake fluid level share the same indicator. If the indicator is lit on the instrument cluster and the parking brake is released, you should check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder.

If the level is low, don't just top the master cylinder off. It is low for a reason. Either you have a leak, or the pads are worn sufficiently enough to cause the level to drop and the light to come on.

The parking brake shoes are contained inside a drum formed by the brake rotor hub. The parking brake assembly is a drum style brake, the regular brakes are disc.

As for the difficulty of changing dash lights, are you asking because you thought about just removing the Brake bulb, or for other reasons?

-Rod

[Bugeye60]

Thanks Rod. Fluid level was fine. Here's a new twist. I recently drove it up into the Shenadoah mountains and as I drone up to higher elevations, the light flickered and then went out altogether. Upon descent, it came back on. I'm thinking pressure switch is faulty. But, I also think that the parking brake arm is also a culprit only because when this all started, I could pull on the arm and the light would go out.

Just where is the parking brake unit, anyhow? I ahven't found anything to adjust (rear disk).

[Dr98]

Check the mechanical switch that is located on the parking brake pedal assembly located behind the drivers side kick panel.

Dean