Spy shots of Baer Brake's new floater kit.

[Steve1968LS2]

Spied this over at Baer Brakes during a tour.. it's their prototype floater kit!

Here's what they said:



Concept: relocating bearing loads from single bearing unit on axle (or inside housing) to a dual bearing rotational assembly located on the housing.

Goal: Eliminate axle deflection

Benefits: Axle becomes a drive mechanism only no longer directly supporting vehicle weight or absorbing cornering loads.
Larger bearing sizes and second bearing dramatically increases bearing life on track and in road use. The fixed location of the hub to the housing eliminates camber change as well as movement at the rotor tip.

Features unique to Baer Tracker system: Fully integrated park brake
Compatibility with hub centric 5 on 4.5", 4.75" or 5" bolt circle road wheels
Largest possible bearing and load capacity
Available with 13" 4-piston or 6-piston as well as 14-15 and 16" 6-piston variations.
Retrofits available for Ford 9-inch Torino bearing PRO+ or EXXTREME+ Baer Claw systmes

Includes: Everything except axles, works with 31 or 35 spline axles.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/10/fm51u-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/10/141quxj-1.jpg

The bearing they are using is huge..

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/10/2zftze1-1.jpg

Sounds like they will be ready to sell it late this year.. My understanding is that it's being built for guys that want to upgrade what they currently have. In other words just chop the ends off your current housing and have this kit welded on. The integrated parking brake is a nice touch.

I don't know if the kit is designed to run with camber and toe but I imagine that's more of a function of how the ends are installed and if barrel-end axles are ran.

But it should solve pad knock-back issues.. I'm pretty sure Wilwood is working on a similar deal so it's great that these brake companies are coming up with these systems.

[James OLC]

Hello!

[parsonsj]

I'm keenly interested!

[Bryce]

Awesome

[formula]

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[Ron.in.SoCal]

So so sweet! Can't wait to get my hands on it. From the picture, I wonder if there'll be any problem with wheel fitment over the rotor hub/hats?

[Samckitt]

It's about time they did something other than just taking GM calipers & rotors & selling them to fit other vehicles. Looks interesting.

[Steve1968LS2]

It's about time they did something other than just taking GM calipers & rotors & selling them to fit other vehicles. Looks interesting.

They've been moving away from the PBR stuff for a while now.. like the 6P, 6S, T4 and other calipers.. :shrug:

[andrewb70]

How is this different than the various NASCAR floating rear setups? Aside for the parking brake.

Andrew

[frankenstang]

Aside from the integrated parking brake, Schwartz has been using this design with the 6s caliper for at least 4 years. It's a proven system using circle track floater hubs. The bearings are huge, I have assembled a few chassis for Jeff. Interesting point about camber and toe settings on the ends. NASCAR has been doing it forever, I thought?

Good to see this coming to market.

[T_Raven]

Nice, sounds like it should be out by the time I'm read for brakes and a rear end

[Roadbuster]

:seizure: Yay! This will definitely be in consideration! That looks sweet and I hope it comes with a standard GM snout to fit my wheels.

[Steve1968LS2]

How is this different than the various NASCAR floating rear setups? Aside for the parking brake.

Andrew

You know about as much as I do.. except I imagine this kit is all set up to accept thier rear caliper/rotor parts. In theory they are all the same, a splined rod (axle) turns a drive plate. Also, much of the race stuff out there isn't setup for our wheel configuration or for studs small than 5.8"

I imagine I will be getting more info.. if there are specific questions I can ask them :)

[novaderrik]

what is the pricing going to be on this?
i'll just assume it's one of those "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" type of deals..

[Roadrage David]

Thats awesome indeed , but im glad im going with this!!!!.on al 4 corners
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img525.imageshack.us/i/viper02.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[ProdigyCustoms]

How is this different than the various NASCAR floating rear setups? Aside for the parking brake.

Andrew

Cool stuff. I can tell you where it is different just looking at it. is in how long the snout that welds to the axle end is. Most of the floaters that are out there right now are real long from the face of the axle where it will weld to the the face of the hub where the wheel will mount, meaning the part that welds to the axle will interfere with brackets on our beloved narrowed housings. most 31 and 35 spline floaters ends will force a user to make his rear 60" or even more which is stock width. And on our Pro Touring Camaros with mini most want a 55" rear so they can have that cool deep lip look, and this set up LOOKS like it will allow this.

I will see if I can find out from Baer the overall lentgh of this assembly.

[Yelcamino]

From the picture it looks like a well thought out system, but then, that's the norm for Baer!

[carbuff]

Would any of the major axle manufacturers be able to produce an axle for these setups?

Steve, if you are talking to Baer, could you find out the soonest this will be available? I have a front/rear Pro+ set on order with them right now that is expected to ship in 2-3 weeks, and if it won't be much longer than that, I may look into changing that order.

Thanx!

[PHXSPEED]

That looks sweet! I bet the price tag isn't so sweet though.

[Steve1968LS2]

That looks sweet! I bet the price tag isn't so sweet though.

Well, to some degree you have to pay to play.. but the price didn't seem like it would be crazy.. maybe a grand more than just getting all the normal brake parts. I will asks though.

[Steve1968LS2]

Would any of the major axle manufacturers be able to produce an axle for these setups?

Steve, if you are talking to Baer, could you find out the soonest this will be available? I have a front/rear Pro+ set on order with them right now that is expected to ship in 2-3 weeks, and if it won't be much longer than that, I may look into changing that order.

Thanx!

Sign said available December 2010.. Maybe call them?

I imagine the axles are fairly easy to get.. if not from someone like Currie then Speedway Engineering for sure.

[Vegas69]

You're all welcome. hahahaha I've been bitching about knock back for a long while. Glad to see Baer has stepped up and came out with a solution. I've made my car compliant without a floater but it was a biatch.

[Steve1968LS2]

Todd over at Baer read the thread and sent me these additions:



Frank at Prodigy is correct, we specifically sized the housing ends to allow the most compact installation possible and it configured to be a match for the narrowest possible rear housings.

Someone asked about wheel fit; the Baer unit is designed specifically to allow use with modern alloy road wheels.

The wheel index (of the 4140 drive plate) on the prototype is actually .500” longer than production versions. All will be set up for the 2.410” OD (standard on early Mustang). Centering rings will then be provided so we are sure to be able to accommodate the widest cross section of wheels.

Also, something I forgot to mention and you may not have noticed on the prototype is the exciter ring for ABS. This task is completed for the Ford applications and the GM versions will be available before release in December.

Anyone currently providing custom axles will be able to provide axles. Baer will only offer a 31 or 35 spline versions initially.

Production parts will be hard coated and steel components plated.

ARP studs .500” x 20 will be standard.

Final pricing will be completed immediately following SEMA (possibly earlier).

Nothing will be shipped earlier than mid December. Orders will be taken as soon as pricing is finalized and they will then be shipped in the order received. Existing orders

Once prices are set there will be new part numbers for rear systems that feature the Tracker integrated with the brake system. These will be priced moderately less than retrofit packages because there are some overlapping components. Initially offerings will include;
• PRO+ and EXTREME+ systems with integrated Baer Tracker Floating Hub.
• Upgrade packages compatible with existing Baer PRO+ or EXTREME+ systems. These will be fully compatible with Baer's current Torino billet aluminum backing plate.
• Other Ford variations, Dana or 10 or 12-bolt GM will need to purchase separate installation package with backing plate and attendant hardware.

[DriverzInc]

Right on Baer! I'm excited to possibly run this set up on our Nova...

Note to self.... Call Baer tomorrow for more information.

[67cougnut]

popular hotrods latest issue just built a rear end for their 67 cougar using this setup with a custom speedway cambered housing, if anyone is interested.

[Bryce]

Cool, thanks for posting. I will have to check that out!