Baer Eradispeed Rotors - Looks or Performance

[Wyodude]

I have a set of 2 piece Baer Eradispeed rotors on their way to me and wondered what others have to say about the performance. I wasted my brakes a few weeks ago on a road course near Brescia in Italy. Went about 30 laps with a 2005 Viper. Toasted the pads, boiled the brake fluid, ruined the rotors which were so hot the plasstic center caps on my stock wheels melted. When I got back I ordered the Baers along with stainless steel brake lines and ceramic pads. I have heard plenty of comments about appearance, but not much about performance. Do they stop the car quicker? Do the slots and holes help them with cooling? What DOT fluid did you use? Let me put a plug in for LAPD and their parts staff especially Shawn who went way out of their way to get the parts I need at the best price!! Hoorah for LAPD!!!

 

[c4cruiser]

High speed braking like you saw on a road course will pretty much toast any system that is not race-level quality. The Baer two-piece rotors will probably handle the heat better than stock rotors but street pads will not typically survive nor will a DOT3 fluid without lots of cooling air.

Find a place that has Motul 600 fluid or ATE Super Blue or the Gold fluid. These fluid have a much higher wet boiling point and should withstand higher braking temperatures.

Ceramic pads, IMHO, don't really have the stopping power that HP semi-metallic or carbon-metallic pads have. These type of pads need heat to work while the ceramic pads can handle heat, some brands compromise braking power for long life.

For track use, look at the Hawk HP+ pads or other similar pads made for track days and still be streetable. The HP pads will make quick work of stock style rotors but stock C5 rotors aren't that expensive. For my 87 autocross car, I usually buy cheap rotors and toss them when they get grooved or used up.

I would also get some flexible ducting to attach to the factory cooling ducts and direct the airflow to the calipers. That will help keep temps down. Do a complete fluid flush with new fluid and bleed before and after each event.

 

[Wyodude]

Eradispeeds

Thanks very much for the great advice, Cruiser. I ordered the ceramic pads before I did my homework, but now that they're here, I'm going to use them. I had intended on using DOT 4 fluid in the system as I change the rotors, pads and lines, since that's probably all I can get in Italy. I will certainly look for the fluids you mentioned, but doubt they're available here. Have you changed rotors in a C5? If so, was it a hassle? I tried to find the manual on line explaining the process, but didn't see it. There are quite a few little metal clips that I'm not sure where they would go, but hope when I take the old ones apart, that will become evident. If you know, is using a torque wrench necessary to torgue all of the bolts, to specifications? I don't have a torque wrench but could probably borrow one. Thanks again for your feedback, you're obviously an expert! Incidentally, I beat the Viper so the cost of replacing the brakes is well justified!

 

[74bigblock]

I have the eratispeeds on my Trans Am. Wonderful improvement in street braking... never taken it to the road course though.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Sounds like you really, really use your brakes hard.

Three things to do
1) Learn to drive fast but be easier on brakes. It can be done.
2) The Baer rotors, racing brake fluid and more aggressive pads will help
3) Brake mods will increase heat from the brakes so what you really need to do is improve brake cooling.

 

[Wyodude]

Brakes

Thanks, Hib...all good advice. I think I'm not doing a good enough job at engine braking, but I had no idea the Vette's brakes were so fragile. No one else could keep up with me on the track that day, except for the Viper so I guess I am using the brakes pretty hard. I am going to look at installing improved brake air cooling ducts while I'm fitting the new rotors, brake lines and pads..

Hoorah! My Eradispeeds came in today...I guess you know what I'll be doing this coming weekend!