Ls1 Brakes Vs Bear

I am trying to decide to do ls1 front brake swap or buy the bear kit. Has anyone had experience with both. Is it worth the extra money for the bear kit.

The LS1 setup can be had so cheap its hard not to do it. I think i'd opt for the C5 setup over the Baer, its also cheaper too.

Depends on which Baer kit you are referring to.

Dan

I have stock LT1 brakes on my Ram Air, I had stock LS1 brakes on my white Z (now have the Baer GT+), and am getting ready to put the C5 Brakes on the wife's vert. LS1 brakes are pretty nice for the money but you will notice a definite improvement with the C5 and Baer kits. C5 and Baer kits use a pressure cast caliper that is not nearly as prone to spreading as the LS1 caliper is. Also, the LS1 stock rotors suck and warp every 10,000 miles or so.... Autozone or other parts store rotors seem to cure this for the mostpart.

Ryan

I'm looking at the Baer Claw GT+ kit also... For fronts and rears it's about $1,200.

Does anyone know if these will fit my SLP Firehawk 17" x 9" rims?

Where do you guys find the baer set up? what is the price dif between a C5 set up and the baer? Also do you need the bishope brackets to do the c5's?

thanks!

You definitely need to determine if the setup you want will fit inside your rims. I wanted to go with the C5 setup but it wouldn't clear my Enkei Winn 17 X 9.5 rims. The Baer Track Claw System (13" rotors) just barely clears (that's what I got...much better than stock) and is modeled after the C4 brake setup. The Baer website has brake caliper "paterns" that you can print out and fit inside of your rim to double check.

I just picked up:

Baer Grand Touring Plus (GT+) fronts - crossdrilled, slotted, zinc washed, 13.15" rotor, 2 piston caliper, all hardware (pads, etc.) - basically the C5 brakes (rear is Baer 11.54" rotors)

Price: $1000 shipped to my door for everything :D :D :D

how much for c5 rotors/callipers? (entire assebly for the switch)

I just picked up:

Baer Grand Touring Plus (GT+) fronts - crossdrilled, slotted, zinc washed, 13.15" rotor, 2 piston caliper, all hardware (pads, etc.) - basically the C5 brakes (rear is Baer 11.54" rotors)

Price: $1000 shipped to my door for everything :D :D :D


Any links?

If you search for "Baer Brakes" then you will see a post by T-Byrne. Tom offered a discount that T-Byrne did not advertise publically. The bad new is I think the discount expired 6/11.

www.tbyrne.com and call them, who knows, maybe they will make you happy

how much for c5 rotors/callipers? (entire assebly for the switch)

ebay.com has the brakets needed to attach the c5 caliper to the 13" rotor
~$230 + ship
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7979249308&category=33563
and
~90 + ship (shady seller tho)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7979180964&category=33564

all 4 rotots, crossdrilled, sloted, NOT sinc washed (have to paint or will rust in hub area)
~$250 + ship ($200 starting, possibly end up at $300)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4554853831&category=34199

all 4 pads
~90
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7979351212&category=33567

all 4 calipers (very nice quality and looks)
~350
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7979690942&category=33563

corvette stainless braided brake lines
~90
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7979932527&category=33562

GRAND TOTAL: ~$1,000 + all shipping :thumb:

ebay.com has the brakets needed to attach the c5 caliper to the 13" rotor
~$230 + ship
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7979249308&category=33563
and
~90 + ship (shady seller tho)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7979180964&category=33564

all 4 rotots, crossdrilled, sloted, NOT sinc washed (have to paint or will rust in hub area)
~$250 + ship ($200 starting, possibly end up at $300)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4554853831&category=34199

all 4 pads
~90
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7979351212&category=33567

all 4 calipers (very nice quality and looks)
~350
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7979690942&category=33563

corvette stainless braided brake lines
~90
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7979932527&category=33562

GRAND TOTAL: ~$1,000 + all shipping :thumb:

Thats way to much to be spending. I'd just buy the brackets which are about $250 then get a used set of C5 calipers or even LS1 calipers. I'd say about $100 max on the C5's LS1 calipers are much cheaper. Some guy said you could buy GM C5 rotors off the net in a previous post for about $25 a piece + shipping. Pads $50 from your local parts house. Then just get some brake lines ~ 100. I'd say you should be able to do the C5 setup for about $5-600 depending upon how smart you shop.

250+100+50+50+100~$550
I'd personally just run stock c5 rotors, pads and rubber brake lines. Trust me you will still notice a difference. I sure did when i swapped on my stock LS1 rotors, pads and rubber brake lines to my LT1 car.

I think the GT+ brakes look much better (specifically the rotors):

http://www.baer.com/Products/BrakeSystems/FrontSystems.aspx

By the way, my entire C5/Z06 front brake conversion was $850 including shipping for all parts. That includes stainless stell brake lines and 2 quarts of ATE TYP 200 race brake fluid.

UMI brackets are a good price (if they work well, which still isn't proven). With those brackets, you should be able to get it all for about $800. That's everything you see on my website, in the picture that shows all the C5 components.

By the way, I would NOT get HAWK HP+ pads unless you like a lot of brake dust, or are going to the track a lot. The HAWK HPS are plenty good for the street and don't dust much.

Dan

I think the GT+ brakes look much better (specifically the rotors):

http://www.baer.com/Products/BrakeSystems/FrontSystems.aspx

Cross drilled rotors usually crack.

Cross drilled rotors usually crack.

I read a lot of stuff on how crappy cross-drilling is so...

I called up T-Byrne and had them change the order to exclude the cross-drilling. I left the slots and the zinc wash so I should be good. :D