Sure. The "cage thing" is part of the switch. Pull the pin going through the mounting stud on the brake pedal, slide the rod off the stud, and the switch should fall right off. Look at it and make a mental note of how it goes together before you fully take it apart.
You are a talented writer! Of my high school friends, the one that was closed to his dad was the one that built a hot rod with him. Keep it up!!
thank so much! this helps a lot. i figured it was something simple and i just didn't know what i was looking at.