Hi all

So I took the mini out this afternoon to check speedo accuracy against another car which definitely has an accurate speedo (I'm so close hoorah!)

Anyway, never had anybody really driving behind me before and they said I didn't have any brake lights, so did a test and they only come on when the brake pedal is pushed quite hard (which would fling me through the front windscreen if I did that while driving)

Brakes seem to be quite good - not a whole lot of travel at all and come on quite strong.

So what causes this and how do I fix this?

Thanks
James

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I wish I had some sort of witty quote in my signature

Your brake light switch is too old. The diaphragm inside it has gone hard with age and it takes more pressure to operate the switch.

Cheers Morris 1100

This doesn't sound fun to fix, I'm pretty sure I have this http://minisport.com.au/mini-moke-hydra ... ght-switch at the moment (obvz old one). Should I just replace with that? or is this one better/useable? http://minisport.com.au/mini-under-peda ... ght-switch

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I wish I had some sort of witty quote in my signature

I replaced my hydraulic switch about ten years ago.
The ones on the pedals are probably a lot simpler but you do need to mount it.

But, your hydraulic switch is just one part of the braking system that is showing its age, how old are the rubber hoses?

You would be surprised!

A socket is all you need to undo it. Top up you master cylinder first as you will lose a little fluid. Unscrew the old one, screw up the new one, and let the fluid flow around the switch a little as it goes back in, this will exclude nearly all the air for you. With a little luck you won't need to bleed the brakes

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

What? Something easy to fix on a mini? You learn something new everyday shame that pesky engine is in the way of the nut.

I'm contemplating doing the pedal box conversion - where you use the mechanical switch, but THAT doesn't look fun to do either

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I wish I had some sort of witty quote in my signature

You will find its just behind the clutch cover, so use a long extension bar on the socket and it will snare it pretty easily.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Took me 20min and cost $10.
$9 Toyota brake light switch and $1 angle from bunnings.
2 self tapping screws and i was able to use the existing wiring.

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http://www.flickr.com/by_dan
Current: 1970 Mini K 2014 Focus ST
Past: 93 Rover, 64 850, 97 Rover, 66 Deluxe, 66 Moke
81 Austin Estate, 2006 R53MCS, 66 Deluxe, 1978 Clubbie
2014 Land Rover Defender 90

There was a time when the "new" hydraulic switches were poor quality and not lasting long.

Any updates of experience on where to buy a decent quality one?

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Get one in a box with a brand name on it it from a proper parts place.
Don't buy it in a plain plastic bag from anyone with the word "Mini" in the store name.

Danny_

So you put a mechanical switch on the pedal box? Do you have any pictures of your work? I'm definitely considering this. Did you do it in situ or did you take out the pedal box?



Phill,

This was my concern in replacing the hydraulic pressure switch, I heard they had been quite poor quality.

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I wish I had some sort of witty quote in my signature

Another advantage of a mechanical switch on the pedal (apart from reliability) is the stop lights come on BEFORE the brakes get pressure, so the poor sod behind you has a better chance of not cleaning you up.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Same thing here. Hydraulic switch was slow to activate and took a lot of foot pressure, so I replaced it with a mechanical switch on the pedal bracket. Used a right hand drill extension to put a hole through the bracket to bolt a switch to.

Original Mini brake lights, like I have on my van, are small and inconspicuous at the best of times by today's standards. Clubman type are marginally better. Don't particulary like high level back window led brake lights on a Mini, they may be functional but they just look so out of place on a classic.

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Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

Yeah that's my concern. I don't feel like getting cleaned up cause of dodgy brake lights.

Do you have a photo of where abouts you mounted the switch? I'm not exactly sure where the best place to put it is haha

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I wish I had some sort of witty quote in my signature

I had one bolted under the accelerator pedal mounting bolts.

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It's easy once you know how.