No 2021 Camaro SS and ZL1 Orders in California, Washington

Camaro Brembo brake pads don’t meet new restrictions on copper content, but a fix is on the way.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro in SS or ZL1 form offers incredible braking force with help from the folks at Brembo. Unfortunately, the brake pads used in the Brembo braking package for the 2021 Camaro SS and ZL1 contain copper, making them illegal in California and Washington. According to the report from GM Authority, dealerships are permitted to sell vehicles already in stock with the copper-based brake pads, but customers cannot order one of these muscle cars to be delivered after January 1, 2021.

The good news is that new brake pads without copper are on the way, but they will not be available until the 2022 model year. This means that if you live in California or Washington, you will need to wait for a while to order a new Camaro in SS or ZL1 form.

Camaro Copper Brake Pads

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro SS and 2SS both come with standard Brembo four-piston calipers up front and four-piston calipers out back. The SS 1LE, 2SS 1LE, ZL1 and ZL1 1LE all come with six-piston Brembo calipers up front and Brembo four-piston calipers out back. All of these models come with brake pads that contain copper in the friction material and starting with the 2021 model year, copper-based brake pads are no longer legal in California or Washington.

“Due to restrictions in California and Washington state related to copper brake pads, customers in those states cannot order a 2021 Camaro SS, ZL1 and 1LE for delivery after January 1, 2021,” Kevin M. Kelly, Senior Manager, Chevrolet Cars and Crossover Communications at General Motors told GM Authority. “Customers can, however, purchase these models from available dealer stock in those states.”

This applies to both coupes and convertibles for all of the Camaro trim levels listed above. You can read more about the law restrictions by clicking here.

Fix Coming for 2022

Chevrolet is currently working with Brembo to develop brake pads for the Camaro SS and ZL1 that do not contain copper, but those new pads aren’t expected to be rolled-out until the 2022 model year. The 2022 model year Camaro is likely to come to market in the latter stages of the 2021 calendar year, so Chevy fans who want to order a V8-powered muscle car in California or Washington will have to wait a half-year or so.

While this won’t have a huge impact on General Motors’ bottom line, it is bad news for the already slow-selling Camaro. California is a leader in hybrid and EV sales, but there are also lots of Camaro convertibles cruising the coast, so there is unquestionably a market for these cars. Over the course of the next six to ten months, that market won’t be able to buy the highest performance models, giving Ford and Dodge an advantage in those two states.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com