With the relaunch and expansion of BIG Claw brake kits in 2024, Baer Brakes set out to provide a true bolt-on brake upgrade at a fraction of the cost of a conventional big-brake kit. The formula has proven to be a show-stopper as easy-to-install BIG Claw brake kits have delighted half-ton truck and SUV owners across the board.

“The feedback we have received from customers that have installed the kits has been nothing but positive,” says Baer product specialist, Mark Fowler. “Many boast how well they work to improve the deceleration rate of the vehicle and reduce stopping distances, with the same or less pedal effort.”

Now Baer is extending the availability of the BIG Claw line to three-quarter and one-ton trucks with the release of BIG Claw HD. Owners of late-model, single-rear-wheel Ford F-250/F-350 4WD and GM 2500/3500HD 2/4WD vehicles can now easily swap in larger-than-stock rotors and caliper relocation brackets to deliver better braking (scroll down for full fitment details). Kits for Ram 2500/3500 trucks will follow this August.

Unlike other aftermarket replacement rotors, the “Baer BIG Claw is a true brake upgrade, without the usual expense and work of a brake upgrade,” adds Fowler. “The system retains the OE calipers and pad fitment, and you don’t have to crack any brake lines during the installation. It’s as simple as replacing pads and rotors.”

The benefit of BIG Claw rotors over other replacement rotors in the market is that they are larger than stock by an average of around one inch in diameter, providing increased leverage and a larger heat sink for hard-working vehicles – especially important for an HD rigs that’s hauling or towing.

A larger rotor increases the brake torque, which in turn means reduced stopping distances. Baer tested BIG Claw in 60-0-mph deceleration using a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban. With stock wheels and brakes, the Suburban stopped in 148 feet. Aftermarket, 20-inch rims added around 30 to 35 pounds of mass to each corner and added approximately 20 feet to the SUV’s stopping distance. However, with a BIG Claw upgrade fitted, the Suburban pulled up in only 144 feet on the 20-inch rims – 4 feet-shorter than it managed with the factory rotors and wheels.

“It’s not just reduced stopping distance, but improved deceleration rate as well,” notes Fowler. “With more leverage, the brakes do not have to work as hard, which improves pad life and driver comfort. The larger rotor has increased thermal capacity, which reduces brake fade because it’s better able to keep the brakes from overheating. These are all areas where BIG Claw outshines other replacement rotors.”

Differently to the regular BIG Claw package, the BIG Claw HD rotors do away with cross-drilling. Baer’s engineers have instead opted for a slotted design.

“Cross-drilling is not ideal in the HD applications,” Fowler explains. “Cross-drilling as well as slotting the friction surface provides an escape route for the gasses and dust that form between the pad and the rotor during braking, to help keep pad contact and pedal-feel consistent. But anytime you cross-drill the rotor, you do introduce the potential for a stress crack to form when overheated. Because HD truck brakes are often ‘put to work’, the rotors tend to see more heat. The BIG Claw HD has a slot-only friction surface – reducing the rotor’s chance of thermal fatigue from the excess heat generated when braking, but still providing an escape path for the pad outgassing through the slots for consistent pad contact and pedal feel.”

Another advantage of the slot-only rotor is that by removing less material, you’re also preserving the size of your radiator – the rotor’s ability to absorb and transfer the heat generated during braking, into the atmosphere. BIG Claw HD rotors also feature the same curved/directional vane design as the BIG Claw, which not only increases the rotor’s structural stability, but also works as a centrifugal pump to provide better air flow through the center of the vented rotor, keeping the brake system at a optimal operating temperatures.

To accommodate the larger diameter, Baer casts NEW caliper anchor brackets specific to each application. These anchor brackets retain the OE mounting points and relocate the OE caliper outward onto the larger-diameter rotor. As with all BIG Claw kits, the calipers use OE abutment clips and brake pad fitment, allowing the owner to use their OE-replacement pads of choice. Baer also has its own line of BIG Claw pads in development – stay tuned for more on those in the coming months.

Each BIG Claw HD kit contains a pair of one-piece, purpose-cast, larger-diameter rotors and a pair of caliper-relocation anchor brackets that provide improved deceleration rate, improved thermal conductivity and reduced brake fade. Both the rotors and caliper-relocation anchors are zinc plated for corrosion resistance and an attractive cosmetic upgrade.

The BIG Claw HD is designed to fit most rims 18-inches or larger, stock or aftermarket. As with all of Baer’s performance brake kits, Fowler recommends using the free templates found on each kit’s webpage online at BIG Claw to verify fitment on your individual truck, including at the spare wheel – particularly if you’ve switched to aftermarket tires and rims. It’s also important to check the template printout for scale, to ensure it has not been incorrectly resized by the printer.

The BIG Claw HD’s unique combination of big-brake-style performance upgrade for a fraction of the regular cost, plus a fast, bolt-on installation process that requires no brake bleeding, means that it suits a variety of truck uses.

Shop Baer BIG Claw HD brake kits here.

“On the one hand there are owners who use their trucks as daily drivers, or for hauling weekend toys like boats and RVs,” notes Fowler. “On the other hand, utilities, landscaping companies and even police and fire departments, all add a lot of equipment – and therefore weight – to their three-quarter and one-ton vehicles. It could be beneficial for those guys to upgrade their brakes, and they need not spend a ton of money to do it. It’s not cost-effective to outfit a fleet of trucks with brake systems that cost multiple thousands of dollars, but the retail price of BIG Claw HD is under under-$1,000 per axle.”