View Full Version : #507 - Brake Upgrade Complete
Siege
03-11-2012, 12:37 PM
I took advantage of a day off from work to install a Baer GT Plus brake kit and TCE SS lines.
I ordered the brake kit with the plain rotors since I didn't want to mess with cracking cross-drilled rotors and I think slotted is unnecessary. If you order directly from Baer you can specify what rotors you want.
The Baer kit installed easily as did the TCE SS lines. I did have some slight wheel rubbing issues in the rear after I got the wheels back on but it was installer error. The line just needed to be twisted slightly and the problem was resolved.
I did cover the brake lines in electrical spiral wrap to provide an extra measure of abrasion protection.
http://i39.tinypic.com/25tias9.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/xlf5fo.jpg
:beer:
Juice
03-11-2012, 12:40 PM
Wow, that looks fantastic. I really need to do this.
Siege
03-11-2012, 12:45 PM
Thanks! The fitment is very tight within the stock wheels. Both front wheels had wheel weights stuck on the inside where the caliper sits.
Had.
:lol:
F8LBITEva
03-11-2012, 12:57 PM
looks awesome but those brake kits are so damn expensive
Juice
03-11-2012, 01:10 PM
Thanks! The fitment is very tight within the stock wheels. Both front wheels had wheel weights stuck on the inside where the caliper sits.
Had.
:lol:
It's amazing how close the clearances are. The Brembos on my Mustang look like they are almost touching the wheel.
Are you going to get the wheels balanced again? Can the weights go somewhere else?
MOTOWN
03-11-2012, 01:23 PM
Looks nice, is that a 14" rotor?
Mercguy04
03-11-2012, 01:40 PM
Very nice set up.
I have Baer brakes on my 96 Impala SS. What a pain in the A$$ to get them to make em.
The rims were 5X5 and didn't stock them. Lots of phone calls later and a little help
for an old friend and I got them. Mine are slotted only
Yours look great and I would think very few have this set up. As I recall they were not cheap. The very best of luck with them. Calipers look bitchen.
Mr. Man
03-11-2012, 01:52 PM
Looks great. What are your initial impressions on your new stopping power?
dohc324ci
03-11-2012, 01:53 PM
Where can one pickup a Baer GT kit for our platform?
MOTOWN
03-11-2012, 02:27 PM
Contact Baer, or Lidio hes a Baer dealer
Mike M
03-11-2012, 03:29 PM
So is Baer or Wilwood the way to go?
Siege
03-11-2012, 03:34 PM
It's amazing how close the clearances are. The Brembos on my Mustang look like they are almost touching the wheel.
Are you going to get the wheels balanced again? Can the weights go somewhere else?
I'm not sure yet about the wheel balance or placement. I've had it up to 40 and didn't detect any unusual vibrations. Tomorrow on my commute I'll see how much there is at 75.
It's a shame because I just had the tires mounted the week before. I would have waited if I had known there would be a clearance issue.
Siege
03-11-2012, 03:36 PM
Looks nice, is that a 14" rotor?
Yup the Baer kits come with a 14" rotor which appears to be the max you can fit in the stock wheel.
Siege
03-11-2012, 03:37 PM
Very nice set up.
I have Baer brakes on my 96 Impala SS. What a pain in the A$$ to get them to make em.
The rims were 5X5 and didn't stock them. Lots of phone calls later and a little help
for an old friend and I got them. Mine are slotted only
Yours look great and I would think very few have this set up. As I recall they were not cheap. The very best of luck with them. Calipers look bitchen.
Thank you sir! :beer:
Siege
03-11-2012, 03:39 PM
Looks great. What are your initial impressions on your new stopping power?
Baer has some ridiculous break-in instructions for the kit. 6 days of just normal driving with no hard stops. This is supposed to heat cycle the rotors to make the more resistant to warping. After this period then the process of bedding the pads begin with a series of increasingly hard stops to transfer pad material to the rotors.
I'll update the thread next week when I finally get to have fun with them. It'll be difficult having patience.
Siege
03-11-2012, 03:45 PM
So is Baer or Wilwood the way to go?
Todd makes an outstanding Wilwood kit and if my car wasn't a daily driver I definitely would have gone Wilwood. IMO, the 6-piston fixed caliper gives a better feel than the Baer sliding PBR caliper.
I chose Baer because I like that the calipers are OEM so parts are easily accessible (the kit uses Corvette C5 calipers) and the calipers also have dust boots to seal the piston to prevent wear of the pistons. Wilwood calipers don't use dust boots since under heavy track usage they commonly melt and I had concerns about premature wear from daily usage.
Siege
03-11-2012, 03:47 PM
Where can one pickup a Baer GT kit for our platform?
I bought mine directly from Baer since I wanted the plain rotors but after purchasing them I found a website that had them for cheaper.
I don't know anything about this site but this is the best price I've seen for them:
http://www.streetortrack.com/Baer-Brakes-GT-PLUS-front-kit-4261046-pr-16229.html
babbage
03-11-2012, 05:27 PM
Congrats on the setup looks beefy. So tell of any more impressions of the new brakes?
Time to get some control arms if you don't have them already eh? :)
So is Baer or Wilwood the way to go?
I have Wilwoods because its a 6 piston caliper.
And another deciding factor for me was that Wilwood also makes a rear brake kit as well. The rear kit is a 4 piston caliper.
But both brands are better than stock!
It seems alot a Baer brake purchasing is been going on lately. To all with the Baer brakes have you stomped on them to see if they stop on the dime? Any of you autocross with the Baer brakes? Any brake fade?
guspech750
03-11-2012, 07:35 PM
So is Baer or Wilwood the way to go?
They are Going to stop a lot better than stock. Can't go wrong with either.
But.
I bought the Wilwoods because they offer a matching rear set that are 4 piston while the front are 6 piston.
Plus. I just can't see myself spending all that money on the Baers for a brake that looks like it came off my F250. Looks too OEM.
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fastblackmerc
03-11-2012, 07:41 PM
I have Wilwoods because its a 6 piston caliper.
And another deciding factor for me was that Wilwood also makes a rear brake kit as well. The rear kit is a 4 piston caliper.
But both brands are better than stock!
They are Going to stop a lot better than stock. Can't go wrong with either.
But.
I bought the Wilwoods because they offer a matching rear set that are 4 piston while the front are 6 piston.
Plus. I just can't see myself spending all that money on the Baers for a brake that looks like it came off my F250. Looks too OEM.
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I agree...
There is more clamping power with the Wilwoods.
I get alot of comments on the Wilwoods.
And yes they stop on a dime and give you $.09 change!
Siege
03-12-2012, 04:42 AM
I have Wilwoods because its a 6 piston caliper.
And another deciding factor for me was that Wilwood also makes a rear brake kit as well. The rear kit is a 4 piston caliper.
Plus. I just can't see myself spending all that money on the Baers for a brake that looks like it came off my F250. Looks too OEM.
No arguments from me. The Wilwood setup definitely wins the performance and bling contest. :D
It's all a trade-off with the brake options under the stock wheels. The Baer kit can run a larger rotor since the pistons in the caliper are all inboard. The Wilwoods have better feel with the fixed caliper and extra pistons but have to run a wheel spacer and smaller rotor due to the mass of the caliper.
The ultimate deciding factor for me was intended usage & part availability. I feel more comfortable with an OEM-based caliper for daily use and if I were to have a pad destruct I can get a replacement anywhere locally.
Siege
03-12-2012, 04:44 AM
Congrats on the setup looks beefy. So tell of any more impressions of the new brakes?
Time to get some control arms if you don't have them already eh? :)
I was looking at the stock control arms while installing the rear lines and boy do they look flimsy. The bushings still "appear" to be in good shape but I have the feeling I'll be upgrading these sooner rather than later.
Next mod is the Trilogy so I think control arms will be a requirement. :burnout:
guspech750
03-12-2012, 05:49 AM
No arguments from me. The Wilwood setup definitely wins the performance and bling contest. :D
It's all a trade-off with the brake options under the stock wheels. The Baer kit can run a larger rotor since the pistons in the caliper are all inboard. The Wilwoods have better feel with the fixed caliper and extra pistons but have to run a wheel spacer and smaller rotor due to the mass of the caliper.
The ultimate deciding factor for me was intended usage & part availability. I feel more comfortable with an OEM-based caliper for daily use and if I were to have a pad destruct I can get a replacement anywhere locally.
I'm with you. If I was still driving mine all year and in the winter. The Baers would be a great choice. The deciding factor for me NOT driving my car all year and mainly in the winter is because of the Wilwoods.
I really like 14" rotors for sure and with out spacers for the calipers.
But in the end. It's great that we have two great brake sets to choose from.
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Eaton Swap + 4.10's = Wreeeeeeeeeedom!!
bolsen
03-12-2012, 09:59 AM
Good info. Thanks for sharing. I want to upgrade my brakes so bad...
fastblackmerc
03-12-2012, 06:37 PM
No arguments from me. The Wilwood setup definitely wins the performance and bling contest. :D
It's all a trade-off with the brake options under the stock wheels. The Baer kit can run a larger rotor since the pistons in the caliper are all inboard. The Wilwoods have better feel with the fixed caliper and extra pistons but have to run a wheel spacer and smaller rotor due to the mass of the caliper.
The ultimate deciding factor for me was intended usage & part availability. I feel more comfortable with an OEM-based caliper for daily use and if I were to have a pad destruct I can get a replacement anywhere locally.
I'm with you. If I was still driving mine all year and in the winter. The Baers would be a great choice. The deciding factor for me NOT driving my car all year and mainly in the winter is because of the Wilwoods.
I really like 14" rotors for sure and with out spacers for the calipers.
But in the end. It's great that we have two great brake sets to choose from.
Sent from my iPhone
Eaton Swap + 4.10's = Wreeeeeeeeeedom!!
The spacer is .090.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/TCE%20Brake%20Upgrade/TCESetup3.jpg
Siege
03-13-2012, 04:08 AM
The spacer is .090.
Yup, .090 spacer is required due to the mass of the caliper. :beer:
Siege
03-13-2012, 04:12 AM
It's amazing how close the clearances are. The Brembos on my Mustang look like they are almost touching the wheel.
Are you going to get the wheels balanced again? Can the weights go somewhere else?
The car is smooth up to 80mph then it gets a very slight rhythmic vibration felt in the steering wheel.
I'll call the shop and see what can be done about the wheel weights.
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