Colt

I just downloaded the templated from Baer's website and checked the fitment inside my wheels. The template fits with the caliper just barely touching the inside diameter of my wheel. I've heard from other sources that the brakes will fit so I'm assuming the template is made a little oversized just for safety. Just wanted to see if anybody could verify this.

Thanks
Tom Milmont
'89 Formula 350 www.megsinet.net/~tomcolt

Tom Keliher

The template IS NOT made oversize! Use a precision ruler on the template guide to make sure you printed it to an exact size as they state, then what you measure with your wheel is waht you get.

Colt

Tom, I measured the scale on the template and it is accurate. Hmmmmm..... You wouldn't mind throwing on one of your stock fromula wheels to see if it clears your PBR caliper would ya.......

Tom Milmont

chevymike

When I tried to fit them in my stock '92 Z28 wheels, the caliper would hit the wheel. It was the "fins" that are cast into the top of the caliper. If you were to file them down, they would fit. Not sure about the 'bird wheels. Good luck.

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Mike Schwartz aka chevymike
'92 Z28, 5.7, Teal Hardtop

"Don't Outlaw High Performance Cars,
Outlaw Low Performance Drivers!"
Mike's Camaro Z28

Tom Keliher

When I tried the template on my stock Formula wheel, it fit, like a glove. Meaning, it was snug against the inside of the wheel. Any wheel weights would have been knocked off, and the caliper would drag on the inside of the wheel.

If you want to run stock 16" wheels with Baer's, just get the machined down 12" rotors.

Colt

I would feel horrible if I bought the 12" rotor kit. Let me explain: I'm gonna end up dropping a good chunk of change on a nice brake kit. The 13" kit costs 1100 and the 12" kit costs 1150. So I would end up paying more for a samller kit. Granted it's only 50 bucks but it would **** me off. I think I'm just gonna end up grinding down the caliper on the 13" kit.

Thanks for the info guys

Tom Milmont

chevymike

The reason of the extra $50 is they take the 13" rotor and machine it down to 12". You are paying the extra cost of the work. Just an FYI. L8R

Hunter Motorsports

The 13" Baer kit with one piece rotors (Corvette ZR-1 rotors) will fit inside a 91-92 16" Z-28 wheel. Will NOT fit inside GTA wheel. May or may not fit inside 85-87 or 88-90 style "IROC" wheels, I have never checked. The way to get the 13" Baer kit to fit behind a GTA wheel is to use a rear wheel on the front and add wheel spacers. (long wheel studs required.)

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Karl Hunter
Hunter Motorsports
Vancouver, B.C. CANADA

chevymike

Karl, not to say you haven't done it BUT I can tell you from my experiance that the 13" kit DID NOT fit without the caliper hitting. If I snugged up the lug nuts, the wheel was locked and would not turn. The "fins" on the top of the caliper would hit the inside of the wheel. If I wanted to file these fins down, they would fit but in the "as delivered" from Baer, they did not.

I pass this on only so people will realise that just because one person doesn't have problems, it doesn't mean you won't.

BTW, this kit was bought in May this year so maybe some older kits did have more clearance.

Colt

Hey Chevymike,

You keep on saying if I filed them down, they would fit. So what did you end up doing??? Try to fit them with the Thirdgen wheels, realize it wouldn't, and then upgrade to 17" wheels??? Did you just not feel comfortable filing them down??

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Tom Milmont
'89 Formula 350
13.4sec@101mph
My Page

chevymike

Colt, my original plans were to upgrade to 17" wheels with 275/40-17 all around. If I was able to use the stock wheels, I would not of had to buy them as soon. As it was, since the Baer kit spaced the front wheels out approx. 1/2", I was not able to use the larger wheel/tire combo on the front. I ended up with 245/45-17 front and 275/40-17 rear. These are the same overall height, just different widths. So far, the combo has worked great but I will find out at an Autocross on the 11th. The main reason I did not want to file down the caliper is I also show this car. I did not want the area that would be filed showing up. It was just an appeirance thing. L8R

Colt

Hey Mike,

So do you think that filing the calipers would have any negative effect on the strength and performance of the caliper? At this point I'm just considering replacing my current setup with rebuilt stock components and going to the races with that. On the first weekend of April I will be at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI for a racing event. I'm thinking if I add brake cooling ducts and braided stainless steel lines I'll be ok. One lap of the track is 4.2 miles long so I know my brakes are gonna get tested.

It sounds like you have a pretty cool car. Do you have any pictures that you could send me or any on a web page. Exactly what are you driving again??



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Tom Milmont
'89 Formula 350
13.4sec@101mph
My Page

chevymike

Colt, filing the calipers should not have any effect on the strength on the calipers. If anything, maybe a very slight loss in cooling but I really doubt it. Your not filing off that much.

As far as running on a road course, I am not sure you would get me on one with the stock brakes. They suck. For any road racing or even hard street driving I would upgrade in a heartbeat. I think CHP mag did an article comparing Baer's to stock, and the best stock stop (the first one) was 30' longer then the worst Baer stop (the first one). The best Baer stop versus the worst stock stop was more then 100' and the average was about 50' better then stock.

If you are really concerned about keeping your wheels, then go with the 12" versions. You will have about 90% the same stopping power as the 13" and a hell of a lot better then the stocks will ever be. Just my .02 worth.

For pics, check my site out. The link is in my sig. I don't have any pics of the brakes up yet. Been really lagging.

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Mike Schwartz aka chevymike
'92 Z28, 5.7, Teal Hardtop

"Don't Outlaw High Performance Cars,
Outlaw Low Performance Drivers!"
Mike's Camaro Z28