[bhill86]

I would suspect the turn signal switch and/or hazard switch as well. If you think about it (regarding vehicles with dual purpose rear lights meaning the same light acts as brake and signal) with no signals on, brake lights come on steady burn when the pedal is pressed. Then with the brake still pressed turn a left signal on and the signal has to “interrupt” the solid brake light feed to provide a now flashing feed to the rear bulb. This is all accomplished by the turn signal switch. Hazards work in the opposite fashion so that when the hazards are on but brake is not pressed the lamps will flash. Press the brake and the lights (both rear and both front) are “overidden” and now solid burn until the brake pedal is released. This works in a different way that I’m honestly not 100% clear on but I think the signal switch is where I’d consider starting.

Your fuse removal changing things, I’ll have to ponder a bit more if nobody else beats me to a solution.