brake light switch very tight

[xpress]

hi there. if i try and wrench this brake light switch out, it's turning the three piece brass union and risks distorting the brake pipes. tried gt85, it's a stuck. might try butane gas lamp and heat that switch up but it's going to take a fair of heat to get those non local threads warm. heat and more gt85?

i fear the switch might be seized/rusted so much that i will have to replace the t piece, in which case one of the brake pipe bolts might not survive and twist the brake pipe ... in which case a new section of brake pipe is needed .. in which case ..

lol

any workarounds for this?

[minor65]

Brake light switches usually are hard to shift. Soak with wd40 or the like and leave for a while. Then place a big enough socket in between the t junction and the inner wing to stop the whole thing turning round. Hopefully it should come out ok !! Thats how I got mine removed.

[Alec]

Hello Xpress,

the tee piece is brass so no corrosion problems, even though the switch is steel. It's just tight and effort is needed to unscrew it, but as you rightly say, the tee piece must be held firm or you will damage the pipes.

Alec

[xpress]

ah, ok. i was right to down tools today then.

ok, the inner wing, so wedge a big socket in between the t piece and where? to the left of the t piece as you are looking into the engine bay from the front of the car?

can you do a microsoft paint diagram for me and upload it? might help others too!

i was thinking of a c clamp on the t piece and the engine floor coming up through one of the open circles, but i don't think that would work.

as you rightly say, brass is ok. but it's steel yuk, this thing is very siezed. hoping not to have to take the t piece off!

keep the ideas coming! i am going to try and heat up the switch tomorrow, and if i can crack it open slightly, will put some gt85 down it. will keep trying it every day, some heat and wd40.

[Budgie]

also place a socket underneath the tee piece its held on by a nut onto the bodywork that,l steady the teepiece and prevent the pipes from twisting/fracturing i had same problem some months ago as mentioned rust is not the problem the thread is slightly tappered so is ment to be tight but with age it just binds more just take your time and follow all the tips given patience being the virtue good luck p.s i wouldn,t use any heat source if i were you!

[xpress]

thanks for the guidance. this is an exercise in love.

held on by a nut underneath! interesting, will take a look at this.

there's a lipped bit of flapped metal near this t piece, it seems to be for holding some sort of wire down, what is this for, anyone?

[taupe]

Its the clip to secure the brake pipe.

[xpress]

ah thanks taupe!

just trying to find the diagram for the bullet connectors for these lights.

[xpress]

is it 1" AF socket to get the old brake light switch out? i tried a big socket wrench, and mole grips to keep the t piece from turning, three big budges won't move it.

next idea is a 1" AF socket on a universal joint, a 10" extension bar and a big breaker bar. the rotten egg won't move.

[Budgie]

if it,s any consolation i had to use a stilsen on mine got the bu-g-r in the end

[xpress]

how big a stilson ;)

what technique did you use?

i have a medium size stilson and a piece of pipe for leverage?!

i have a mole grip and smaller stilson, should be able to do it with two stilsons, one to hold the t union and another to shock and unlock the brake light switch?

is that hex on the top of the switch, 1" af? i can't find one of these sockets anywhere!

:S

[Budgie]

medium stilson on the switch tight up against the engine mount and the relevent socket {sorry can,t remember the size at present} underneath the teepiece and gently but surely

[xpress]

I tapped the nut with a cold chisel a few times ... fixed.

I will take a picture I don't think my t piece is in the right place should it be above the hollow circle? The
brake pipe is not in the clip.

Is there a nut under this t piece to steady the thing then you use the stilson to turn the brake switch nut?

[bmcecosse]

There is I think a bolt with nut to secure the T piece. It is in an awkward place - but really shouldn't be all that tight.

[Budgie]

you,ve got it,stilson on the switch,socket on the nut under the bodywork,secure the stilson so it doesn,t move when turning the socket on the said nut and tease it loose

[bmcecosse]

He wants to change the switch - not loosen the T piece!

[xpress]

The t is not connected to the body unless I can't see it. It seems raised. I will like to work this out but for now my brake lights are sorted!

[Budgie]

sorry if i,m not explaining this correctly,i did this last summer,there is a retaining bolt under the teepiece,which keeps the teepiece secured to the floor in the engine bay.Place a socket on this bolt,{its easier if the car is up on ramps/lift} so as to hold the teepiece still while you place the stilson,spanner,molegrips etc on the light switch and,from underneath the car,grip and turn the stilson/whatever to undo the brake switch,mine was very tight aswell but with some persuation i got it in the end.

[bmcecosse]

He says the T piece is not bolted down...... And in any case - it's a nut and bolt, so just as likely that the bolt will spin uselessly and not help to react against the stillson wrench

[Budgie]

a well it worked for me