Classic/Antique Car Repair: dash board brake light stays on, drum brakes, pressure balance


Question
replace all the brake lines and hoses and distrubution block on a 68 olds cutless with drum brakes.bleed the brakes and still light is one and there is no leaks. drove to see if light will come off and still stayed.

Answer
I'm not clear whether the light that bothers you is the one that warns you that your parking brake is not releasing, or the one that warns you there is a problem with the master cylinder balance.   

If you have two separate lights, I guess you know where to look for the problem.

If the same light is used for both purposes (I don't have a 68 olds shop manual, so I don't know), you'll have to check both things.  To see if the problem is from the front/rear pressure balance switch, disconnect the wire from that switch - if the light goes out, that's your problem - and you'll have to reset the pressure operated switch by making sure the brakes are all working correctly and then pressing on the pedal hard - or perhaps you can push the plunger on the switch back to the center position - just inspect the switch, you should be able to see a small rod sticking out of it - just push it until it clicks into the center position.

If disconnecting the wire from the balance switch doesn't make the light go out, investigate the switch on the parking brake mechanism - something isn't adjusted right there, or else your parking brake isn't coming all the way off when you release it.

Dick