brake light power comes from the white wire off of the brake pedal switch to the TS assy in the column & with the stalk in neutral there should be power out in 2 wires (might be green/brown) which goes out rearward to the RR/LR large filaments in the 1157 bulbs (same filaments used for the turn signals). with your meter & seperate the harness connector & see if you have continuity from the white wire out to the 2 wires then see if the white wire is hot coming from the brake pedal switch when the pedal is depressed & should have power in the pink wire on the input side of the pedal switch all the time. On the RF issue, first confirm the bulb metal shell is for sure grounded