I've been considering a rear-brake upgrade for my 85 IROC (3.23's with rear discs) and I understand Baer makes a bolt-on kit; however, I've located a rear end with 3.73's and drums. I understand that Baer fabs a kit for that application too. My question is this: If I buy the drum kit for the 3.73's and grow tired of that rear end, can I swap the kit to the disc rear end?

JamesC

 

Not without buying a new backing plate for the different axle flange. The backing plate is what holds the caliper to the axle in Baer's kits.

 

Would you happen to know if those are available from Baer or another after market manfacturer?

JamesC

 

If you buy a kit from them, they MIGHT sell you another one. They aren't going to sell you one if you don't buy one of their kits. Just call them to be sure.

 

As long as they are both 10-bolt rear ends I believe you can swap the Baer kit between them. If your 3.23 disc rear end is a 9-bolt then AGood2.8 is correct and you will need a different set of Baer brackets to mount the calipers.

 

Both are 10-bolts. That would be cool.

JamesC

 

Nope- the same kit wont work on both. The axle flanges are different on the stock disc axle compared to the stock drum axle. I am 100% positive on that statement. And am talking 10 bolt disc to 10 bolt drum comparison.

 

Does Baer make a special plate for a drum flange or is it just the reg disc plate and they make you saw the top of the drum flange off and redrill? If its the latter, then they will swap.
Why not upgrade to some LS1 rear brakes? They will work on both disc and drum rears.

 

Is the e-brake cable problem solved where the LS1 brakes are concerned?

 

Is it just the bolt pattern that's different on the axle flanges? Or are there other differences as well?

Looking at a pic of the Baer brackets, they have holes for multiple patterns. This would make sense since I don't see Baer making 3 different brackets - one for 10-bolt drum, one for 10-bolt disc and one for 9-bolt disc. If they can make one bracket and drill it to fit all 3 applications that saves them time and money.

Does anyone have any more info. on this? Baer no longer has their online catalog available or it would be easy to look it up. Here's a pic of the Baer bracket for the rear brakes:

 

So far I have seen 3 different ways to hook up the LS1 ebrakes.

 

Anyone have personal experience with swapping Baer drum/disc or disc/drum kits?

JamesC

 

I e-mailed Baer today hoping for a definitive answer. I'll post their reply.

JamesC

 

It's my understanding that the Baer rears are the same as or similar to the 1LE rears, which is on late model production Z28s. Why not look for an axle from an 91-92 with discs in that case? Either way, it's probably cheaper than the Baer rears being added on after buying a used axle.