Bulletin No.:

Service Bulletin

Date:

20-NA-229
December, 2020

INFORMATION
Subject:

Copper Free Brake Information

Brand:

Model:

Chevrolet

Camaro

Model Year:

VIN:

from

to

from

to

2021

2021

—

—

Involved Region or Country

Engine:

Transmission:

All

All

United States

Information

Brake RPO JL9

The purpose of this bulletin is to review the copper free
regulation, how it affects Camaro and the service
strategy for each brake model RPO. The states of
Washington and California have passed legislation
beginning the phase out use of copper in brake pads.
Phase out dates limit copper content to < 5% by weight
in 2021, and < 0.5% (essentially zero) by 2025. This is
an effort to reduce metal content in storm water runoff
negatively impacting the environment in key
watersheds.
Copper free legislation for California and Washington
State is effective for all vehicles built on or after
January 1, 2021. While this legislation affects all
vehicle manufacturers and vehicle lines, the rollout for
Camaro is complex. The Camaro offers 7 different
brake RPOs dependent on model. We will review the
changes made, based on brake RPO, to meet the
Copper Free legislation. The brake service options will
be categorized by vehicle RPO codes as such:
5686142

Equipped on LS and some LT models. This option will
roll out with copper free brakes across all 50 states with
start of production for the 2021 model year.

Copyright 2020 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Page 2

December, 2020

Bulletin No.: 20-NA-229

Brake RPO J55

5686145
5686143

Equipped on some LT models and the LT1 Model (RPO
1LZ). A copper free solution is only available for
vehicles with brake RPO J55 and WITHOUT RPOs
Y4Q (auxiliary cooling) and A1X (1LE track package).

Built on/after January 1, 2021, General Motors will
restrict dealers in California and Washington State
from ordering these models.
No copper free solution is available for the V6 and
Turbo 1LE models (RPO A1X).

Brake RPOs J6G (SS) / J6M (SS 1LE) / J6H (ZL1
& ZL1 1LE)

Brake RPO J55 & Y4Q or A1X

5686144

5686146

Bulletin No.: 20-NA-229

December, 2020

Page 3

5686147

5686149

•
•

•

•

Will maintain MY20 copper-containing linings
(non-copper free) system for 2021 model year.
Any 2021 Camaro equipped with brake RPOs J6G
/ J6M / J6H built on/after January 1, 2021, General
Motors will restrict dealers in California and
Washington State from ordering these models.
Beginning with 2022 model year, Camaro SS, SS
1LE (RPO A1Y), ZL1 or ZL1 1LE (RPO A1Z)
produced for California and Washington State, will
use brake RPOs J6H&BCD.
Camaro SS, SS 1LE (RPO A1Y), ZL1 or ZL1 1LE
(RPO A1Z) for all other 48 states, will continue to
be produced with brake RPO J6G or J6M OR with
the option of BCD.

Summary
The table below provides a complete explanation of
which model/brake RPO is cooper free for both model
year 2021 and 2022:
5686148

Model

Brake RPO

MY 2021
Copper
Free
Compliant

MY 2022
Copper
Free
Compliant

LS/LT

JL9

Yes

Yes

LT

J55

Yes

Yes

LT

J55 & Y4Q

No

No

1LZ

J55

Yes

Yes

LT 1LE

J55 & Y4Q & A1X

No

No

SS

J6G

No

Yes –
Optional with
J6H&BCD

SS 1LE

J6M

No

Yes –
Optional with
J6H&BCD

ZL1

J6H

No

Yes –
Optional with
J6H&BCD

Page 4

December, 2020

Model

Brake RPO

MY 2021
Copper
Free
Compliant

MY 2022
Copper
Free
Compliant

ZL1
1LE

J6H

No

Yes –
Optional with
J6H&BCD

Frequently Asked Questions

Bulletin No.: 20-NA-229

by the US EPA, unifying the expectation for brake pads
for all 50 states. When servicing the different brake
RPO’s found on Camaro model’s, it’s important for
service technicians to understand whether they are
servicing a vehicle with copper-containing linings or
Copper Free components. Camaro HP models (SS,
ZL1), will offer copper free compliant brakes as an
option for the remaining 48 states.

Question : How are brakes serviced in California and
Washington State on Camaro models produced prior to
January 1, 2021?
The Copper Free legislation does not affect the sale or
serviceability of Camaro models built prior to January
1, 2021.

Question : Are dealers in California and Washington
State prohibited from servicing Camaro models
produced on/after January 1, 2021 that are not
compliant with the Copper Free Regulation?
Camaro brake pads not compliant with copper free
legislation are restricted from being ordered by dealers
in California and Washington State.

Question : Can dealers in CA & WA state service
non-compliant brake components on Camaro models
built on/after January 1, 2021?
No – service parts needed to service brake
components on Camaro models not compliant with the
Copper Free legislation are restricted from being
ordered by dealers in California and Washington State.

Question : Starting in 2022 model year, how are
Camaro HP models identified as copper free
compliant?
The addition of RPO BCD will be added to the RPO
string on the vehicle build record, indicating this vehicle
would originally be built to become compliant with
Copper Free legislation.

Question : Are vehicles built after January 1, 2021 that
don’t meet the copper free regulation prohibited from
sale in California and Washington State?
Although General Motors will restrict dealers in CA &
Washington State from ordering Camaro models built
on/after January 1, 2021, there is nothing in place
preventing the registration of non-compliant models in
these states. There is nothing in place to prevent a
dealer from dealer trading for a non-compliant vehicle
from a neighboring state and selling it to a customer.
The customer will not be aware of the non-compliance
issue, until they need to perform a brake service on the
vehicle and are unable to obtain parts. In such cases,
the customer should work with the selling dealer to
cover the cost of upgrading the vehicle to make it
compliant to the Copper Free legislation. In this
scenario, the responsibility to upgrade the vehicle
brake system to be compliant with the legislation, is not
the responsibility of General Motors.

Question : To make a Camaro compliant with the
Copper Free legislation, is it just a matter of changing
the brake pads?
In order to maintain the same braking performance, the
brake components have to grow in size and therefore,
brake pads compliant with copper free legislation will
not fit on Camaro models with traditional
copper-containing linings.

Question : How does the California & Washington State
copper free regulation affect the other 48 states?
Although the initial legislation was adopted by
California and Washington State, this was followed by a
Memorandum of Understanding backing the legislation

Question : Is it possible to make a vehicle produced
with copper-containing linings compliant with the
copper free regulation?
To upgrade a Camaro model previously produced with
copper-containing linings to be compliant with copper
free legislation, it will be necessary to replace, pads,
rotors, calipers, brake shields and in most cases, a new
EBCM calibration will also be required. For Camaro
models that offer components that are compliant to the
new copper free legislation, the cost to upgrade the
brake system will range between $2,000 - $7,000,
depending on model.

Version

1

Modified

Released December 11, 2020

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these
technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper
service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a
job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your
vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the
information.

WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY
TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION