The BAT catalog gives an excellent description on the difference between the early and late SVT brakes.
www.batinc.net BAT says that the change date is 5/99, but I believe that their information is based on incorrect information from Ford. The actual date of the change was much earlier, purhaps as much as a year or even more earlier.
Basically the late SVT still uses the large front rotors but uses the same calipers as the non SVT. The caliper mounting brackets are the same for all SVT's. Also most of the 99 and newer Cougars use the large calipers with the smaller calipers. A few Cougars use the smaller rotors and calipers, mostly the 4 cylinder cars with drum rear brakes.
A non SVT Contour can be converted to the large rotors by using the SVT/Cougar caliper brackets. The big brakes will fit under the factory 15" wheels. Either the large or small caliper can be used. Even cars with drum rear brakes benefit from this modification.
