I have a 1988 chevy silverado and the brake light stays on all the time real bright when emergency brake is on but dull when it is off what causes this

SOURCE: emergency brake light on 92 chevy blazer

There is a pressure switch, that gets depressed or released due to pedal position. When you engage the PB the arm is depressed...releasing the pin-like pressure switch.

Examine the pedal itself...looking where it 'touches' the car.
Depress the pedal....while watching this place. Look for a 'pin-like' switch that is allowed to extend when the parking brake is engaged, and that would be depressed in when the arm is released/disengaged.

Once you have found this, it is likely that either the:

1. arm is slightly misaligned and does not depress the button..ie. the light stays on
2. if it is lined up...then perhaps it does not depress the button far enough...press it to see if they light now goes out
3. once you confirm that the light will go out..then you can adjust the physical location of the switch so that the brake pedal arm, more fully engages it

SOURCE: emergency brake foot pedal not working

Sounds like the cable is stuck also check the catch on the foot pedel

SOURCE: 2003 silverado HD adjust emergency brake cable?

first you need to check the rear brakes ,the emergency brakes work off the rear brakes, there is an adjustment on the center of cable that goes between both rear brakes,hope this is some help,thanks robert b.

SOURCE: emergency break cable broke on 2004 silverado

I had the same problem on my 2003. Open the driver door all the way. Get on your knees just outside the door. Follow the plastic tub that holds the parking brake release cable inside the truck. Start from the release lever and follow to the end of the tube. There will be a metal lever that the cable was attached to before it broke. You have to pull that lever with your hand to release the parking brake. Very Important!!!...Hold the parking brake activation pedal with your other hand when you release the brake. Let the pedal out slowly when you pull the metal release lever. The pedal will come back very fast and you could injure yourself if you are not careful. Good luck!

SOURCE: cant depress brake caliper to replace pads

disc brakes on the rear of a vehicle have a screw out mechanism that attaches to the ebrake . this means that you must turn the caliper piston to recess into the cylinder.
open the bleed screw to make it move eazier.

Testimonial: "thanks for "bleed valve" tip. I had to take the whole caliper off due to debris in the chamber,the brakes have not been maintained prior to me."