SSBC or Baer for my 55 ?

[ProTeal55]

Hello ,

After looking around on the new 55 Bel-Air i just got , it looks as if the brakes on the car are garbage. The previous owner installed front discs , but they were ready to be thrown in the garbage when he put them on the car , and now they are really bad , and the rear drums have to go.

Instead of "rebuilding" whats on the car , I am looking to repalce the system , with larger rotors front and rear.

SSBC has a few kits for my car , as well as baer. I just wanted to see what peoples opinions were on the different options i could go with. I know i would also need to prchase the wheels I want , due to the larger rotors not being able to fit with the current 15'' wheels....

Any help will be appreciated.............

[USAZR1]

What spindles are on the car now? What diameter front rotor do you want to run? Just front disc or do you want to go four wheel?
I'm a Baer dealer if you want to give me a shout.
(940) 855-6636

[LTorres]

Likewise if your wanting to go with Wilwood as your Brake set up of choice. Call me I am a Wilwood Distributor. But also have over 800 applications in our own lineup using Wilwood hydraulics already available.

1 866 992 7253
mailto:[email protected]
LTorres

P.S. Were building a kit for a guy in this forum(F1Speed) that has a 69' Chevelle. Its over at Metal Works Performace Engineering, we've been working closely with Kip the owner of MWPE. His car will have 14" 2pc cross-drilled and slotted rotors with Wilwood SL6 calipers in the front and 13" cross-drilled and slotted rotors with Wilwood SL4 calipers in the back, gonna be sweet!

[F1 Speed]

P.S. Were building a kit for a guy in this forum(F1Speed) that has a 69' Chevelle. Its over at Metal Works Performace Engineering, we've been working closely with Kip the owner of MWPE. His car will have 14" 2pc cross-drilled and slotted rotors with Wilwood SL6 calipers in the front and 13" cross-drilled and slotted rotors with Wilwood SL4 calipers in the back, gonna be sweet!

Yup, don't rule out a Wilwood system for your project. A lot more bang for your buck compared to some other brake systems out there. Basicly the other brake companies make some really nice kits but what it all boils down to is how you want your project to perform and how well it will work with the rest of the suspension set-up ( wheels, tires, spindles, wieght of the car, horse power, etc. ).

The Wilwood system mentioned in the above quote will be a perfect compliment of performance and style with the ULTRA trick suspension that Kip and the guy's over at Metal Works Performance Engineering are putting under my Chevelle project. Throw on a Hydratech High Performance Brake Assist Unit and you've got yourself a killer stopping machine. Either way give Kip a call and they can set you up with what you are looking for.

I know quite a few of the other guys on this site are happy with the way their Wilwood kits perform. Hopefuly Andrew will see your post and tell you how he likes the system that is on his GTO. I know he did a lot of research before he made his Brake kit choice.

[BA.]

Not that this contributes one iota but I'm also trying to decide between Baer and Wilwood for big 12"-14" front's and sizeable rears, with or w/o Hydrassist which many many seem to really like.

[ProTeal55]

I am looking to replace the front and the back brakes. I wanna go with a 2'' drop spindle up front , to get the car lower , and i think i am going to have the rear leaf's de-arched untill i figure out what i want to do in the rear.

As far as horsepower goes , the car makes 250 if that in it's current state , but plans for a Procharged 383 are allready in the works.

It is looking like I am going to be running 18'' wheels front and back , and i want to run the largest rotor possibile , yet not have any clearance issues like i have been reading about on this board.

Keep the feedback comming !!!

[Steven]

Depends on how much you want to spend balanced with how quick or often you will need to stop. SSBC claims that their system is as good as any other however you may have have limitations with the SSBC. One is that the stock ride height in the rear might have to be maintained.

The Baer system will cost you much more, but I believe that you can run bigger rotors and ride height may not matter.

I put front and rear SSBC on my 85 Monte Carlo SS. It was easy to do, however my stock proportioning valve and master cylinder failed during the install and break in. Those two caused a few problems and SSBC was very helpful with all the phone calls I made. You will need to add a rear proportioning valve.

Do be ready to change a few extra parts. I added a line lock to the front system and have a lot of fun with it.

Go on line with Center Line and check out wheel deals section. I got a set of 16" wheels at a very good price.

[ProTeal55]

Keep all the good advice coming.....

I do plan on installing a AirRide system on the car , so the not being able to change ride height thig worries me. I want to de-arch the rear and add drop spindles for the time being , untill airride is installed...

So it looks as if Baer's are out , so now it is between Wilwood and SSBC.
I had Aerospace Componet bakes on my last car , and was pretty happy with them, anyone else have good / bad experiences with them ?

How about a retro-fit package to put newer style corvette LS1 style brakes on my car ? Anyone know of a company that makes a kit ???

[Silver Spur]

I have used SSBC and they have been great to deal with on my 69 Camaro. They only do slotted rotors though so if you want the cross drilled look you will have to use another supplier. They claim drilling weakens the rotor and promotes cracks. It depends on the look you are going for. I think some cars look better with drilled and some without. I used slotted rotors on mine to match the look I was after but it's all personal preference.

[Steve1968LS2]

I would choose Wilwood or Baer over SSBC.. both are better engineered..

I have had "drilled" wilwood rotors on two cars and have never cracked them. One advantage of the PBR Baers is that they take commonly found pads, also that they are a floating design that has many advantages especially on the rear of the car.

Wilwoods are great but make sure you get their NEW pads that don't squeel like a school girl.. also, replace every single black bolt they give you with something else. The bolts have a cheap ass coating on there and rust if they get damp. The Caliper bolts used to do the same thing but they now use some silver ones that are good. the rest of the bolts are rust waiting to happen.

That said, Wilwood offers the best bang for a buck out there.. $1300 for 6-piston front brakes? That's a deal.. Oh, and they have great customer service.

Baers are nice but IMO are somewhat overpriced for their track kits which are basicly vette PBR calipers with nice rotors and conversion brackets.

[Steve1968LS2]

Remember..

Wilwood = good

Wilwoods bolts = major suckage

True Story...

[ProTeal55]

Thanks for all the good input , and keep it coming, I am learning allot.

Big Thanks go out to L.Torres over at Percision Brake Company for all the great help in getting me a package put togther, yet I not sold yet

[LTorres]

Thanks for all the good input , and keep it coming, I am learning allot.

Big Thanks go out to L.Torres over at Percision Brake Company for all the great help in getting me a package put togther, yet I not sold yet

Not sold yet...patience my young Jedi....you will be.

LTorres
Out West

[ProTeal55]

Looks as if I am going to have to do atleast 17'' wheels before i even think about a big brake package. Now onto the wonderful world of trying to find a size and offset that fits

[USAZR1]

Looks as if I am going to have to do atleast 17'' wheels before i even think about a big brake package. Now onto the wonderful world of trying to find a size and offset that fits

Maybe one of these will help.
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/t...2318/index.html
http://www.percyshp.com/producthomewheelrite.html

[ProTeal55]

Thanks for all the good advice. Looks as if i am going to tackle some smaller projects before big brakes , such as replacing the points ignition system , and little stuff here and their...