Brake light switch

Technical MGB discussion
Not_Anumber
Posts: 415
Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:33 am
Forename: Chris
Surname: S
Location: UK

Re: Brake light switch

Post by Not_Anumber »

I guess changing to LED brake light bulbs would have the same effect of reducing the arcing on the switch contacts too
1979 MGB GT
1999 Jaguar XKR
2003 MG TF
Mrbenn
Posts: 40
Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:15 pm
Forename: Ben
Surname: Norley
MGOC Member: Yes

Re: Brake light switch

Post by Mrbenn »

I've swapped to LED's on mine for this very reason. On the older filament lamps I've changed my brake switch twice in the last 12 months.
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Issug987
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Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2023 9:54 am
Forename: Mike
Surname: B

Re: Brake light switch

Post by Issug987 »

My switch (SMB423) has been fitted since 1996 and is still working. I think that more recent (none Lucas / Original) switches must be a poor quality / sub-standard part as other have noted. The fact that these have an electrical failure, makes me think that being poor quality other failures are probable too. so the electrical ailure is a good indication that the switch needs to be changed, fitting a relay to mask or accomodate the poor quality may just lead to other failures later on, poor threads, bad casing material, poor sealing, it all makes sence for a cheep, poor quality item. 'we' only have ourselves to blame, a good quality item may cost £50, nobody wants to spend that whenthey can get a cheep one for £5, well it wntlast aslong and may fail in a way that can cause much further damage. I'm sure the engineers at Lucas considered all the failure modes and made the switch to be fail safe, these cheep copies are just that, no engineering has gone into the design and build, just a visually similar looking item.....personally i'd never fit a poor quality item to a vital safety systems like my brake circuit, get an original Lucas (or aquality item , they are out there), and i know we are only the little people, but i dont except poor items for our usual suppliers, they dont seemto care !!
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