GM Parts Club
The last big towing weekend of the summer, after three months of heat on the brakes and the cooling system. Here is what to actually look at, using a 2010-2015 Chevrolet Camaro as the example.
Brakes
Watch for uneven pad thickness side to side when you pull a wheel. Inspect at every tire rotation. Most GM trucks and SUVs go 30,000 to 60,000 miles on front pads depending on how they are used, and towing cuts that hard.
GM friction material is matched to the specific rotor metallurgy and the ABS calibration on your vehicle.
Cooling System
Watch for a heater that blows cool at idle and warm at speed. GM’s long-life coolant is generally rated for 5 years or 150,000 miles on the first fill and 5 years or 100,000 miles after that. Hoses and the surge tank should be inspected annually once past 80,000 miles.
Surge tanks and caps are pressure-rated to the specific system, and a wrong cap is a slow way to cook a head gasket.
Drivetrain and Transfer Case
Watch for a hum that changes with steering input, which usually points at a wheel bearing. Transfer case and differential fluid on a schedule that tightens sharply if you tow or run in dust. Wheel bearings are replaced on noise, not on mileage.
Wheel bearings on modern GM trucks carry the wheel speed sensor in the same assembly, and sensor tolerance affects ABS and stability control.
The Short Checklist
- Brake pads: Front and rear pads are almost never the same part, and heavy duty, tow and performance brake packages use different calipers and rotors than the base vehicle.
- Radiators: Engine, tow package and rear-A/C content all change the radiator and hose part numbers. Have the VIN ready.
- Transfer case encoder motors: Ride height, axle ratio and locking differential content all change these numbers.
Everything here is available as a genuine GM part through our Chevrolet OEM parts catalog. If you would rather search directly, search for Camaro parts.
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