S brakes or not

[rac4bux]

hello i just bought a 72t,the po said it had s option package with front and rear swaybars and S brakes.it has the swaybars front and rear.but the front calipers are not aluminum.if these were S brakes should'nt they be aluminum?and can you have front and rear sway bars on a 'T' without 'S' brakes.am i being had or what is the correct expanation.thank you

[bobmagyar]

For a 1972 S-brakes do mean the aluminum calipers. They are not terribly expensive to acquire if you wish.

[70SATMan]

You could install the front sway without having the S calipers. To mount the S brakes you have to have the proper strut with the 3.5 caliper spacing. I'd say that if the car originally had the S options then it would have included S brakes. Just talking out my A$$ on this though. Don't know if the S options could have been individually had. I mean why bother?

[Kaleid]

For a 1972 S-brakes do mean the aluminum calipers. They are not terribly expensive to acquire if you wish.

Since you guys are on this topic, do the "S" calipers look any different (besides being aluminum)? Any other distinguishing factors?

[sithot]

The "S package" has been thrown around incorrectly by many of us over the years. It could be a "trim" group (bumper rubbers, etc). The “Appearance Group included "S" Gauges (meaning you got the oil level and temp gauge). None of this had nothing to do with the alloy brakes unless specifically ordered.
FWIW, they don't really stop any better; Heat dissipation and unsprung weight issues are the main advantages and being "trick" pieces, they were on the top of the line "S".
Sway bars were optional as well on T's and E's from your era.

Tom

[70SATMan]

The "S package" has been thrown around incorrectly by many of us over the years.
Tom

See Race4bux? I told ya I was of dubious authority. If he told you it had S brakes and they are not alum. then they are not the early S brakes. Measure the bolt spacing on your calipers.