54 CHEVY HIGH PERFORMANCE II OCTOBER 2019
Baer Aspirin
01 | The Baer brake installation begins with the Roadster Shop 9-inch rear
axle setup with 31-spline axles. Joel Rode of Hot Rod Specialties in Upland,
California, tells us the 9-inch axle is prone to leaks, but it doesn’t have to be
this way. His approach is achieving perfect surfaces along with a thin bead of
Permatex’s The Right Stuff from Summit Racing Equipment applied as shown.
Apply The Right Stuff to the studs as well.
02 | We’ve opted for the cast-iron Currie Sportsman N-case with 3.50:1
cogs. Currie’s complete 9-inch differential cases are available in 28-, 31-, or
35-spline configurations and axle ratios from ARB, Currie, Eaton, and Wavetrac.
Joel applies The Right Stuff to the studs and runs the locknuts down evenly until
the case is seated, then torques the locknuts to 35 ft-lb in one-third values in a
crisscross fashion.03 | Roadster Shop provides axle seals, which
have been driven into place with a seal driver. Joel
has applied a thin film of The Right Stuff between
the seal and housing. The seal lip should be bathed
in wheel bearing grease to protect it from damage
during axle installation and start-up.
04 | Joel carefully slides the axle into the housing
without letting it touch the seal. If you drag the
axleshaft across the seal it can damage the seal,
causing leakage.05 | All fasteners get Permatex’s Red threadlocker
prior to installation and tightening.06 | The rear
brake installation
begins with the
backing plate and
parking brake
assembly.
07 | The Baer parking
brake assembly should
look like this installed.
Installation of the
parking brake shoe can
get tricky because you
have to get it over the
axle flange.08 | Once
the parking
brake
assembly is
installed and
connected,
the brake
rotor slips
on the axle
flange as
shown.
09 | The rear brake caliper bracket is next, secured by two Grade 8 bolts
dressed with Permatex Red threadlocker and tightened with a 3/4-inch box-end
wrench.