Where does the parking brake switch go?

[chuckludwig]

Howdy. I installed a replacement parking brake mechanism and lines that I got on CJ's into my 1971 Mach 1 but it did not come with a parking brake light switch. Unfortunately, the mechanism it was replacing was also missing the switch. My car did originally have the switch. There is a light for it in the gauges and the wire is hanging around where I assume it goes.

The problem is I don't know exactly which switch replace is, nor where it goes. Does anyone have a part number and / or a photo of how it installs?

I once cooked the brakes in my 96 bronco because the parking brake light was broken on that and I drove into town with it engaged (IDK how I did it either. I did note the car seemed sluggish haha). I am who idiot lights were made for I suppose.

Thanks in advance!

Chuck

 

[midlife]

The parking brake light was part of the convenience group harness, which are fairly rare. The switch at the hand brake provides a ground, so all you need is the proper bulb socket and an ACC or run-only power source.

 

[chuckludwig]

The parking brake light was part of the convenience group harness, which are fairly rare. The switch at the hand brake provides a ground, so all you need is the proper bulb socket and an ACC or run-only power source.

Thank for the reply. My car actually does have the light (and no alternator light which is super strange). What I'm trying to figure out is the actual switch that attaches to the parking brake foot mechanism. I haven't been able to find a clear photo of one, nor what part to get.

 

[Moderator73]

Is this what you're looking for...

https://www.npdlink.com/product/par...2Blight&top_parent=200001&year=1971&year=1971

 

[Sheriff41]

The parking brake light is not in the instrument cluster, that would be the brake fail light. The parking brake light is located on the lower dash near the headlight switch.

 

[Stanglover]

This is one modification I've been thinking about because dumb-ass here has driven the car with the stupid parking brake pedal engaged... more than once. It's still on the to-do list. In my case I WAS going to use the brake fail light in the gauges as I do not use the distribution block for front and rear brakes, therefore the switch is unused.
I still ask the question "what the hell were Ford (and others) thinking when they put a stupid foot operated parking brake on a manual transmission car?" Oh, and please don't get me going on the term "emergency brake". Ask me how I know!

 

[Sheriff41]

This is one modification I've been thinking about because dumb-ass here has driven the car with the stupid parking brake pedal engaged... more than once. It's still on the to-do list. In my case I WAS going to use the brake fail light in the gauges as I do not use the distribution block for front and rear brakes, therefore the switch is unused.
I still ask the question "what the hell were Ford (and others) thinking when they put a stupid foot operated parking brake on a manual transmission car?" Oh, and please don't get me going on the term "emergency brake". As me how I know!

I needed to be able to and your post.

 

[giantpune]

This picture has some of the part number if you want to try and track things down.