The brake lights on my 245 wagon do not work.

I am about to check and clean the contacts and the ground on the rear light clusters and clean the appropriate fuse and fuse slots , If that does not work I plan to by pass the on/off switch which is actuated by the brake pedal to see if that is the culprit.

Does it matter when one reconnects the wires to that switch that they be reconnected to that switch at the same spades?

If bypassing the switch does not get the brake lights to shine, what else should I check ?

Is there a relay involved or does the wiring circuit go from the fuse box to the pedal switch all the way to the rear end? If there is a relay, where is it and what does it look like?

Are there any connections midway between the brake switch and the rear end where one harness connects into another and where can one check the connection and the continuity of the circuit.

Please help put a stop to my problem