There is some problem with the wiring on my 57 Super that makes it so that the rear lights don't light up when I hit the brakes. I know that it's not the bulbs or the connections at the lights becuase they DO light up when I turn my head lights on. I've bought a new brake light switch and tried several different configurations at the brake light switch, and all I've been able to do is hotwire the car while I press on the brake pedal (which was actually kind of funny). If anyone knows anything about the wiring or if you've had a similar problem, please help me becuase I don't want to get rear ended.

-Tom

I am not specifically familiar with the '57 Century, but, the tail light usually have two filaments. One is for the tail lights, and has a wire specifically to it, and will light up when the headlights are turned on. The other is the brake lights. It is partially controlled by the brake light switch, but is wired through the signal light switch as both use the same "bright" element in the bulb.
If someone is to help you, you should mention if your signal lights are operating normally.

Tom, try using a test light or voltmeter to find out where the power to the lamps is being lost. Attach one test light wire to ground and the other to the hot terminals throughout the system until the dead spot is located.

Power leaves the battery + post, goes to the ign. switch, to the fuse block main bus(pink #12 wire size), through the 10 Amp dir. signal/stop light fuse, to the stop light switch (white #18), to the turn signal switch (white #18), to the center lamps in the tail light housings (dark green #18 left side and light green #18 right side), and then to ground. The center lamps are also the turn signal lamps. The upper lamps are the rear running lights.

There are other dark green and light green wires leaving the turn signal switch that go to the front turn signal lights. These of course do not receive power when the stop lights come on.