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1976 Chevrolet Camaro - Project g-28 Braking News

PHR's new project car gets binders from Baer, and another good report card from the test track.
January, 2009
By Johnny Hunkins
Photography by Johnny Hunkins, Nick Licata
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Baer's GT brake system for... 
   
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Baer's GT brake system for Second-Generation Camaros and Firebirds ('70-'81) cost us $1,345 (part No. 1301057). The kit includes 12.75-inch vented one-piece rotors, PBR two-piston pin-drive calipers, caliper brackets, new spindles, PBR street pads, stainless steel brake hoses, a new master cylinder and all the hardware necessary for a complete assembly. Over the years, we've come to rely on the fact that Baer's kits are complete and easy to install, and this one is no different. In fact, our kit came pre-assembled (spindle, caliper brackets, wheel bearings, caliper and rotor).
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The PBR two-piston pin-drive... 
   
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The PBR two-piston pin-drive caliper in the Baer GT kit was originally developed for the Z51 C5 Corvette, which has proven itself on the street and on the track over the last nine years. This isn't our first encounter with this caliper--we've used it on a '93 Firebird Formula and a '94 Corvette, which were both road raced. We especially like how many choices there are for street and race pads (since it's a factory Corvette part).
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The GT kit for Second-Generation... 
   
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The GT kit for Second-Generation Camaros and Firebirds includes this smaller-diameter 15/16-inch bore master cylinder. This is hydraulically matched to the higher pressure needs of the PBR caliper. Since our pushrod was shorter, we used the included pushrod spacer (Baer calls this a "bullet" due to its shape) included with the kit.
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Baer's Sport system (part... 
   
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Baer's Sport system (part No. 1302041, $875) is designed to convert drum brakes to disc brakes on '75-'81 Camaros and Firebirds. It comes with everything you'll need (rotors, single-piston PBR calipers, braided stainless steel brake hoses, parking brake cables, pads, mounting brackets and mounting hardware). If you plan on racing like us, you'll also want to purchase the adjustable proportioning valve for $55.
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To upgrade the rear brakes,... 
   
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To upgrade the rear brakes, you'll have to pull the rear axles. We took that opportunity to see what was loaded in the rear diff. We found 2.73 gears (41 ring teeth and 15 pinion teeth) and an open rear end. This would've been an ideal time to swap to a three-series gear and a Truetrac differential from Detroit Locker, but we didn't think that far ahead. One thing we'd like to point out is that the 8.5-inch rear in Second-Generation Camaros is plenty strong enough to road race. The 8.5-inch rear has been used in Turbo Buicks for years and at the drag strip is a solid performing piece down to the high 10s. Stronger axles do help, but the 8.5-inch rear is worth keeping.
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Installing the Baer Sport... 
   
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Installing the Baer Sport kit is a simple affair. Just attach the Baer caliper bracket to the axle, slide the axle back in, slip on the rotor, bolt the caliper to the bracket, and check the clearance between the caliper anchor and the rotor (0.030-inch clearance is required to prevent excessive wear). Here, Baer technician "Dutch" Miller is tightening the caliper to the caliper bracket. The next step is attaching the parking brake cable and hydraulic line.
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Baer also makes wheel spacers,... 
   
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Baer also makes wheel spacers, so we tried these quarter-inch thick pieces to get the rear wheels out a little more. It helped the stance and clearance some, but our Weld wheels really need far less back spacing than a spacer can provide.
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Up front, the Baer GT system... 
   
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Up front, the Baer GT system is already assembled so just pull the stock spindle/brake assemblies and drop the Baer pieces on. You'll need a new alignment due to slight differences from production tolerance, but it's a true bolt-on affair. Note the Heidt's/QA1 coil-over suspension--which was installed at the time for a test in sister magazine Super Chevy. We'll be changing back to our original PST/Global West system before final track testing is complete.
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The Baer GT front rotor is... 
   
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The Baer GT front rotor is 12.75 inches in diameter and is 1.25 inches thick. This is the kind of beefcake we need to stop our 3,600lb Camaro on a road course! Customers can also elect to step up to the GT-Plus system, which has a two-piece rotor with an aluminum hat. The GT-Plus rotor is 13 inches in diameter, but is lighter in weight due to the alloy hat.
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Baer technician "Dutch" Miller... 
   
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Baer technician "Dutch" Miller has installed the new master cylinder along with a new rear proportioning valve (lower right). The adjustable prop valve reduces line pressure to the rear Sport disc brake system by turning the dial. Later on at the test track, we would make a series of adjustments to this valve to delay lock-up of the rear brakes. Please note that due to weight balance, suspension and tire type, all cars will find a different ideal bias between the front and rear brakes.

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