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Chevrolet Camaro 2010-2015: How to Replace Brake Pads and Rotors

We all know going fast is fun, but one thing that can quickly derail that fun is having brake pads and rotors that aren't up to par. If you need to replace your brake pads and rotors, this guide can teach you how!

By Mark Scheets - March 8, 2016

This article applies to the Chevrolet Camaro (2010-2015).

The brake pads and rotors help stop your car, and these are two parts that will need to be replaced throughout the life of your car. There are a few different ways to determine whether or not you need to replace your brake pads and rotors, such as feeling a shuttering when you hit the brake pedal, they make noise, or it's taking longer to slow the car down. Although pads and rotors are two of the most important parts on your car, any one can change them with the right tools and a little bit of patience.

Chevrolet Camaro 2010-2015 How to Replace Brake Pads and Rotors

Materials Needed

  • 1/2" drive breaker bar or impact gun with 3-5" extension
  • 1/2" drive ratchet
  • 14mm, 16mm, 18mm, 22mm sockets
  • Torque wrench
  • 1/8" punch and hammer
  • T-30 Torx bit
  • Wire coat hanger
  • Floor jack and jack stands
  • C-clamp (optional)

Step 1 – Prep the car

Before we begin performing this job, it would be a smart idea to make sure the car is in park, or in gear with the parking brake on if you have a manual transmission. This is done to prevent the car from moving when we lift the car. Another alternative is to also put wheel chocks under the tires to prevent any tire movement.

After you have put the car in park and chocked the rear wheels, get your 22mm socket, extension, and breaker bar, or impact gun, to break the lug nuts loose before jacking the car up the front of the car.

Camaro SS 2010-2015 brake pad rotor caliper remove replace change how to
Figure 1. Preparing to loosen lug nuts with impact gun and 22mm socket.

Step 2 – Jack up the car

Now we can begin jacking up the car. You can either jack up the entire front of the car, or just one side. In my experience, it is better to do one side at a time. Once you decide which side to work on first, jack that side up high enough to put your jack stand under the car on the frame rail.

Once the car is secured on the jack stand, you can now get your 22mm socket and finish removing the wheel and begin working on the brakes.

Camaro SS 2010-2015 brake pad rotor caliper remove replace change how to
Figure 2. Car on jack stands with the tire off and front brakes exposed.

Pro Tip

Do not rely on just the jack to hold the weight of the car; always use jack stands when working on a car off the ground.

Step 3 – Remove the brake calipers

Once the tire is off and the front brake assembly is exposed, we can begin disassembling the brakes. In order to do this you need to loosen the two pins that hold the brake pads in place. It is best to do this while the caliper is still bolted together. In order to loosen the pins, you need to get your 1/8" punch and hammer to hit the pins.

Camaro SS 2010-2015 brake pad rotor caliper remove replace change how to
Figure 3. Brake pad pins on the caliper.

Pro Tip

If you are only replacing the pads and not the rotors, you can punch the pins out all the way and pull the pads through the top of the caliper.

With the pins knocked out, we can remove the brake caliper. To take the caliper off of the bracket, loosen the two 18mm bolts on the back of the caliper bracket holding the caliper on. After you have the caliper free, it is best to make sure that it does not hang freely. You can use a wire hanger and hang the caliper to the spring.

Camaro SS 2010-2015 brake pad rotor caliper remove replace change how to
Figure 4. The two 18mm bolts holding brake caliper on.

Pro Tip

After you remove the caliper from the bracket, do not let the caliper hang. If the caliper hangs freely, you risk damaging the brake line.

Step 4 – Remove and replace pads

After you remove the caliper from the bracket, now would be the best time to change the pads. Before you change the old pads for the new pads, use a c-clamp to compress the brake pistons so the caliper is easier to put on with the new, thicker pads. Before installing the new pads, put some brake grease on the back of the pad side of the pads (this helps prevent noise and helps everything move freely). Make sure you don't get any of the grease on the front of the pad that makes contact with the rotor.

Camaro SS 2010-2015 brake pad rotor caliper remove replace change how to
Figure 5. Decompressing the caliper pistons with c-clamps.

Step 5 – Remove and replace rotor

Now that the caliper is off and the new pads are in place, we can now turn our focus to the brake rotor. The rotor is held on by a T-30 Torx bit bolt. Remove this bolt to free the caliper, and put the new rotor on, then reinstall the bolt and torque it to proper specifications. Before putting the caliper back on, it would be a good idea to spray the rotor down with some brake clean and wipe it with a clean rag or even paper towels. New rotors are packaged in an anti-rust coating, and this should be cleaned off before the pads contact the new rotor.

Camaro SS 2010-2015 brake pad rotor caliper remove replace change how to
Figure 6. T-30 Torx bit on brake rotor.

Step 6 – Replace caliper

Now that you have put the rotor on and placed the new pads in the caliper, you can now reinstall the caliper. The procedure for this is just simply the opposite of the removal. It is best to use one of the 18mm caliper bracket bolts to line the caliper back up. Once you have the first bolt started, you can put the other in and torque both bolts to the recommended torque specification. After you finish installing the caliper, you can simply put the wheel back on and lower the car and repeat the instructions to work on the other side!

With the new brakes installed, pump the brake pedal a few times, so that the pistons is pressed against the brake pad. With the wheels bolted up to the car, lower it down and take a tentative drive around the block to ensure that the brakes are working as intended.

Featured Videos: Replacing 2010-2015 Camaro Brakes

  • Changing Camaro SS Brakes

  • Replacing Front Pads/Rotors

  • Replacing Rear Pads/Rotors

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