Is this spec brake stuff?

[72T]

Continuing with my brake upgrade - third LED brake light installed, but that extra light made me notice my brake lights were staying on. Found this setup next to the brake pedal. It doesn't look stock and was working OK, until the plunger appeared to wear out. Any input on what I should do as far as fixing this or how to make it correct?

[Lyle O]

You don't say the year of your car, but all later versions (from at least the mid-seventies) use a pressure switch on the MC set-up (two actually, one for each circuit) to activate the brake light, so what you have there is not stock. The pressure switches are notorious for weakening over time, requiring excessive pressure to activate (and a resultant safety hazard). Many have opted to use a pedal or other mechanical switch (like what you have there). If you can source a new plunger switch (should be easy), go with that. Again, only caveat is that I believe very old models had a mechanical switch (though yours looks not stock at all, just something a PO fabricated to help with the hydraulic switch issue).

[72T]

Sorry, yes it is later. An '87 911

[dan88911]

72T there maybe something of value here.
Safer stop lights

[aj88cab]

As Lyle O described your car originally had the two pressure switches on the brake MC. Your options are to repair this non-factory mechanical switch, replace the switches in the MC, or replace the MC which will come with new pressure switches installed. Not knowing the age of the MC, I opted to replace the MC when I had this issue crop up. There were some minor compatibility issues with the wiring harness connector and the prongs on the new switches which I addressed in this post.

Brake light switch connector spacing problem

BTW-these switches also serve to release the cruise control when you touch the brakes, so if you use the CC, it is important that this system works positively & correctly.

[Jesse16]

As Lyle O says, your PO's version of a mildly or maybe very popular fix for troublesome stock pressure switches for the brake lights. I'm not liking what you have, there are better in many threads IMHO (a zip tie ??, really!). Your choice to go back to the pressure switches on your master cylinder or head down the myriad of non-stock methods.

[RedCoupe]

I've never thought much about my brake light switch, but after reading this thread the other day, I checked how much pedal pressure it takes to turn on the brake lights in my 86 Carrera. Wow! The brake lights don't illuminate until you really stand on the brake pedal! I enjoy driving the car to work occasionally and on weekends, so I think I was bound to get rear-ended at some point if I didn't fix this. Thanks for bringing this topic up.