Dim Brake lights.

M

marko

Member
Had a few folks tell me my brake lights on my 1950 F1 (6 volts system) are dim at best. My turn signals are bright, but brakes.. not so much.
The lights have the blue looking dot in the middle.

any ideas on how I can get 'em brighter?
 
Marko, Run a dedicated ground wire from the light socket to the frame. No provision for ground was made originally other than socket to fender.
 
The brakes and turn signal should be the same element on the bulb, I believe they have different sources (it depends on what turnsignal system you have), I'd check the voltage at the brakelight switch. Check both sides to be certain full voltage is passing thru it. It'll go direct from the switch to the turnsignal.
 
Sounds like something other than a grounding issue. If the turn signals illuminate brightly as stated, the grounding should be adequate.

Normally, the turn signal and brake signal illuminate the SAME filament in a bulb. Almost sounds like there is some sort of mis-routing of the wiring. Normally, brake lights are routed thru the turn signal mechanism to allow the above to work, utilizing the same filament. It almost sounds like your brake wire is run to the dimmer-glowing taillight filament.

Those blue dot lenses aren't helping matters, either. DD
 
It is going to depend on where the turn signal setup came from and how it is wired up. What are you using for turn signals? Is the brake wiring and turn signal wiring interconnected? Are there separate or a common filament for the brake and the turn signal?
 
Thanks for all the replies. Right now the truck is in the paint shop for some work on one of the doors. I'll get it back next week. Wish I had it in the drive right now so I could answer some of ur questions.

I do appreciate all ur suggestions. I'll be on it next week.
 
i just went through this on my '50 Ford tudor. I rewired the turn signal switch. There are two different power wires for either the TS or the brake lights. I will put the switch back on tomorrow and report on the outcome, but the bench test looks good.
 
Look at your bulbs, if they have two fiiaments, you may have the wiring reversed causing the brighter to illuminate for the signal instead of the brake. If not, I would look at the brake switch
 
As stated, I installed my newly rewired turn signal switch today and the Brake lights are super bright. The wire feeding into the TS switch from the new brake light switch and wiring was corroded and the connectors were not making good contact.
 
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