Project C5X Baer Brake Rotor Install - Braking News

This month we show you the Baer Brake rotor install that Project C5X received at the Mid America Motorworks Corvette Funfest. One of the cool facts about Baer is that the company has had the distinction of winning more Corvette Challenge races than any single car and driver in the two years of that racing series.

Founder Hal Baer established Baer Racing in 1986. His technical and analytical skills, coupled with a keen ability to spot people with strong, diverse talents and assemble them into a cohesive team, has and continues to be Baer Racings greatest strength. Originally the business provided race preparation and fabrication services between seasons and race dates. But as popularity and demand for its brake systems grew, Baer was forced to look at beginning production of its systems. To that end, following the '93 race season, Hal partnered with Todd Gartshore and Robert Sommers to form Baer Brake Systems.

We wanted to keep the original GM calipers intact for now, and we didn't want to have to rebleed the brakes while on-site at Funfest. After consulting with Baer, we decided the best brake option we could install was the EradiSpeed line, which represents the company's premium line of performance rotors. EradiSpeed units are purpose-cast with quality iron materials for performance far beyond the factory units. Furthermore, the curve-vaned design provides greater airflow and heat dissipation. EradiSpeed rotors feature faster thermal recovery, increased heat absorption, increased friction, and a lower wear rate. They're cross-drilled, slotted, and zinc-washed and carry a limited lifetime warranty against warping. Listed below is a breakdown of the Baer EradiSpeed brake line.

EradiSpeed-PLUS-ONE indicates a set of rotors a size larger that still work with the OEM calipers. The result is increased performance by virtue of the augmented leverage of the larger rotor. Baer provides all the hardware necessary to move the location of the OEM calipers outward. EradiSpeed-PLUS-ONE rotors may work with OEM wheels but usually require larger ones (see application notes).

Features:
- One-piece increased-diameter performance rotors
- Increased-diameter rotor-upgrade systems employing OEM calipers
- Increased rotor diameter means greater leverage and improved brake torque
- Rotors are larger than the OE units they replace and are designed for use with larger-than-stock wheels
- Includes specialized caliper hardware to properly accommodate installation
- Are always directional with curved vanes
- Cross-drilled, slotted, and zinc-coated surfacesSystem installs without bleeding

EradiSpeed-PLUS rotors are also a direct OEM replacement; however, the "plus" indicate rotors that are of a two-piece design. An EradiSpeed-PLUS hat is CNC-machined from billet or forged aluminum and anodized black. The hats and rotors are joined with NAS (National Aerospace Standard)-the same hardware used in Indy cars. With a two-piece design, EradiSpeed-PLUS units provide a welcome reduction in total rotor weight.

Features:
- Two-piece (aluminum hat and iron disc) rotors provide LITE direct replacement for OE applications
- Also direct replacements
- Increased mass in the "firepath"
- Curved-vane directional design
- Employ an aluminum hat or hub/hat to provide a lower total weight
- NAS stainless hardware
- Cross-drilled, slotted, and zinc-coated surfaces.

EradiSpeed-PLUS-TWO features the same elements as the Plus-One Systems in a lighter-weight two-piece design utilizing NAS stainless hardware and installs without bleeding.

Features:
- Two-piece (aluminum hat and iron disc) rotors provide LITE direct replacement for OE applications
- Increased diameter rotor upgrade systems employing OEM calipers
- Increased rotor diameter means greater leverage and improved brake torque
- Rotors are larger than the OE units they replace and are designed for use with larger-than-stock wheels
- Includes specialized caliper hardware to properly accommodate installation
- Are always directional with curved vanesCross-drilled, slotted, and zinc-coated surfaces

We decided to install the EradiSpeed-PLUS-TWO system on Project C5X, which means we had to suspend the suspension either on jackstands or on a lift. The job is pretty straightforward and can be easily accomplished on a Saturday afternoon. Our thanks go to Dutch Miller at Baer Brakes for his help on this article. Now let's get right into the brake upgrade.