Should I swap '72 sbp discs to '73 bbp discs?

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72swingerVA

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My '72 Swinger has the small bolt pattern power front discs/rear drums, and I got a vintage set of Keystone Klassics for it that I'd like to use. But I also recently bought a '73 Swinger parts car that has the big bolt pattern power front discs/rear drums. Are there safety/performance reasons to do a swap from sbp discs to the bbp discs?
 
The only thing I can think of is the single piston calipers are a lot cheaper and easier to find if you need to replace them than the 4 piston. I think when I bought the single piston calipers, they were around $35.00 each and readily available at the parts store, but it took my cousin over a year to find a set of 4 piston calipers and they were over $200 each.
 
None that I can think of. Your proportioning valve may not be setup perfectly for the 73+ disks, but a minor issue since the optimal setting varies with tires, pads, weight loading, etc anyway.

Why do you want to swap? The early Kelsey-Hayes was probably a better design than the later sliding single-piston calipers. The main reasons I can think to swap is better parts availability and if you want BBP wheels. Of course, best to swap to a BBP rear also so you don't have to carry 2 spare tires.
 
BillGrissom said:
None that I can think of. Your proportioning valve may not be setup perfectly for the 73+ disks, but a minor issue since the optimal setting varies with tires, pads, weight loading, etc anyway.

Why do you want to swap? The early Kelsey-Hayes was probably a better design than the later sliding single-piston calipers...
Click to expand...

Plus the SBP 8 3/4 A body rear is the best. Very nice combination. You can get Hawk pads for the K-H calipers also.
 
O'Reilly has the K-H calipers for about $100 a side, new. And Summit has slotted crossdrilled rotors for a very good price, and ceramic pads. So support is getting better.
 
73+ brake parts and upper lower ball joints are all considerably less expensive. Throw in the fact there is better wheel selection and that is why the swap is a popular one. Doubt there is much if any performace advantages.
 
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