Swift Sure Power brakes

[stu454bb]

Hi guys, just a quick question. What is Swift Sure brakes and how do you know if your car had them? My 59 has an under dash booster. So i would think that means power brakes, but what was Swift Sure?

[simplyconnected]

Swift Sure was a name Ford Motor Co. used for their power brakes (like SelectAire or Polar Aire). Use of the Swift Sure pedal started in 1955 and it appeared on various Ford cars with automatic transmissions through 1962.

I think the Thunderbird line only used this pedal from '55-'58. So, your car may have 'Swift Sure Power Brakes' even though 1959/ T-birds used a pedal with "POWER BRAKES" in raised letters.

[Anders]

Swift Sure was a name Ford Motor Co. used for their power brakes (like SelectAire or Polar Aire). Use of the Swift Sure pedal started in 1955 and it appeared on various Ford cars with automatic transmissions through 1962.

I think the Thunderbird line only used this pedal from '55-'58. So, your car may have 'Swift Sure Power Brakes' even though 1959/ T-birds used a pedal with "POWER BRAKES" in raised letters.

My ´58 have this "Swift Sure" pedal.

[Astrowing]

My 58 has this pedal also. The 59's and 60's had the larger (wider) rear linings. And the 58's anyway had the split secondary linings with the ceramic insert originally. Did they drop this for 59 and 60? When did they move away from the under dash booster?

[simplyconnected]

...So, your car may have 'Swift Sure Power Brakes' even though 1959/ T-birds used a pedal with "POWER BRAKES" in raised letters.

Oh, maybe I need to explain: In all the Ford Catalogs and books, if you see a year and a slash (1959/ in this case), it means starting in 1959 and every year after until the end of coverage for this Ford book.

So, we are saying the same thing but in two different ways. Yes, 1958 would be the last year for Swift Sure brake pedals on Thunderbirds with automatic transmissions. - Dave

EDIT: 1959 was the first year Ford used Bendix boosters under the hood.

[stu454bb]

Thanks for the replies. So if I were to use a Swift Sure pedal with S.S. trim on my 59, it would be incorrect to the purest. I need to fit a new pedal, and I like the look of the S.S. trim. I recon I'll just fit one anyway.

[simplyconnected]

It really is a handsome pedal. If you have a few extra bucks to give your ride something nice but different, hey, this pedal is held on by one bolt and nut. You can always change it back whenever you like. Go for it. - Dave

[63-4drpost]

Bendix Booster usage

My 1957 Merc had a Bendix power brake booster under the hood. Were you just refering to T-Birds?

[simplyconnected]

My 1957 Merc had a Bendix power brake booster under the hood. Were you just refering to T-Birds?

Yes. Ford, Edsel, Mercury, and Lincoln cars and trucks used some of the same parts before and after T-bird used them.

For example: Y-Blocks were used in late '54 before T-birds were introduced, and Ford stopped using them in '64. Not T-bird... they only used Y-Blocks from '55-'57.

Our '59 Galaxie came with a 292 Y. (The 'higher' V8 option was a 352 FE.)

As far as Bendix boosters, T-bird master cylinders are 5" lower on the firewall than Ford Cars. Bendix boosters on a 'bird have a different firewall bracket to raise the booster and M/C away from the transmission linkage on the steering column.

[Deanj]

Anyone need a "Swift Sure" reproduction brake pedal pad? Here's an EBay listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/252874849018?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649