Update 2008:

With the revamping of the front suspension to AFX spindles, I ditched the C4 Covette Baer brakes for C6 Corvette brakes with Baer 2-piece rotors. The backs remain the same, and all 4 corners were treated to new Hawk HPS pads.

Previous Setup:

In late March 2002, I got my tax refund back, and I was astonished at the amount of the check. So, what better way to spend that refund than to call Baer and place an order?

I ordered a 13" Track kit on B-body spindles for the front, and a 12" touring system in the rear. I had seen pictures of the two piece rotors, and spent several days deciding if I should spring for them-- the price to upgrade was pretty spendy. Finally, my Dad provided the final argument: "If you don't get the 2-piece rotors, every time you look at the car you're going to think to yourself 'gee, I wish I would have got the 2-piece rotors." SOLD! So I decided to pay the hefty fee to upgrade to 2 piece rotors, and decided since I was in this far I might as well spring for zinc washing, slotting, and crossdrilling. I know the crossdrilling is cosmetic and doesn't offer a real performance increase over slotting, but who can argue with the looks?

Baer provided almost everything... New master cylinder, proportioning valve, brackets, e-brake cables, etc. A very well thought out kit, although I thought their instructions were a bit on the brief side. One sticking issue is that the rear calipers are stamped LH and RH. However, they are stamped for their original application, and for installation in the Baer kit they are reversed. I had the rear brakes on and noticed the e-brake cable bosses hit the frame, come to find out you have to mount the caliper stamped LH on the RH side of the car. A little note to this effect would have saved me a phone call. 

Anyhow, pictures! Click on any thumbnail for a larger image.

A happy day! I come home and find this on the porch.

What's inside...

Might as well test fit one of the brakes in the new Torq-Thrust II Classics.

Some installed pictures.

Update 6/20/03

While Baer assured me on the phone their brakes would work well as manuals, I wasn't happy. The pedal effort was VERY high. I could stop normally, but couldn't stop rapidly such as in a panic stop situation. It just needed too much leg effort. Thus, I decided to switch to power brakes. I didn't want to go with a vacuum booster because of the blower and also because my engine doesn't pull much vacuum at cruise. I happened to be visiting pro-touring.com and noticed a banner ad for Hydratech Braking Systems. I was familiar with hydroboosts, having worked on a friend's diesel surburban and also seeing one on another supercharged Chevelle a few years back. They've always appealed to me-- constant assist no matter what the engine load because they're not dependant on vacuum, and also a lot more assist available simply because it has approximately 1000-1200psi available at all times from the power steering pump.

I ordered up a new blueprinted Level III unit from Paul at Hydratech complete with Aeroquip TFE hoses and his custom -6AN outlet so I could run XRP braided hose rather than hose and hose clamps for the return back to my remove reservoir. I also ordered a power steering filter from Lee Manufacturing to put on the return from the box to keep any debris out of the reservoir and hydroboost. I bent templates for new master cylinder to distribution block lines and had them bent up by Classic Tube (great people!) in stainless. I used the 15/16" bore master cylinder that Baer provided. The pedal travel was great in a manual setup; with a power setup the travel would be shorter (different pivot point on the pedal). If I used a larger bore master cylinder the pedal stroke would probably be very short.

Results? Let's just say my braking problems are a thing of the past. I now have way more braking ability than the tires can handle! Using just my tiptoes I can throw passengers hard against the seatbelts with ease. The pedal is very smooth and easy to modulate. Even with all the assist available it's easy to stop gently. It's not an on/off switch. It really excels in all areas. Great pedal feel and TONS of braking assist. I highly recommend one. I will never use a vacuum booster again if I can help it! I can stop HARD from triple digit speeds multiple times and the whole system never misses a beat.

Here are a few pictures.