2015-2022 Chevy Colorado GMC Canyon Brake Guide

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

Short answer: The 2015-2022 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon use 6-lug 6x120 wheels, a vented 12.20 in front rotor, and a VENTED ~12.76 in rear rotor. The parking brake is a drum-in-hat shoe setup, not an integral caliper. This guide walks through the exact diagnostic steps, replacement thresholds, product comparisons, and cost breakdown so you can decide with confidence whether to DIY or take it to a shop.

Direct experience note: we ship these parts daily from our Circleville, OH warehouse to customers across the country. The picks in this guide reflect what fits, what lasts, and what our repeat-buyer mechanics come back for.

What to Know About Chevy Colorado Brake Replacement

Understanding Chevy Colorado brake replacement matters because it directly affects stopping distance, brake pedal feel, and how often you replace consumables. Getting it right the first time saves both money and follow-up shop visits.

• Fits the 2015-2022 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, GM's second-generation midsize pickup twins.
• Wheels are 6-lug on a 6x120 mm bolt pattern using M14x1.5 lug nuts torqued to roughly 140 lb-ft.
• Front brakes use a vented 12.20 in (310 mm) rotor with a single-piston floating caliper.
• The rear rotor is VENTED on these trucks, about 12.76 in (324 mm), not a solid disc.
• Parking brake is a drum-in-hat design: small shoes ride inside the rear rotor's center hat.
• Factory rear rotor discard (minimum) thickness is 16.0 mm; replace any rotor machined below spec.

Spec Chart by Vehicle Class

How to Diagnose or Replace

1. Loosen the six lug nuts, raise the truck, set it on jack stands, then remove the wheel.
2. Unbolt the two caliper guide-pin bolts and hang the caliper from the coil spring using wire.
3. Slide out the old pads, remove the two bracket bolts, then lift off the caliper bracket.
4. Remove the rotor retaining screw if fitted and pull the vented rotor straight off the hub.
5. On the rear, release the parking brake and inspect the drum-in-hat shoes before fitting the new rotor.
6. Install the new rotor, refit the bracket and greased slide pins, then seat fresh pads.
7. Reinstall the wheel and torque the lug nuts to about 140 lb-ft in a star pattern.

Once diagnosis is complete, order the exact replacement parts for your vehicle - fitment matters. Related Chevy Colorado brake replacement products are listed in the next section.

Recommended Parts and Where to Buy

Every product below is in stock at our Circleville, OH warehouse and ships same-day when ordered before 2 PM Eastern. Free shipping on orders over $75.

• Brake Pads
• Brake Rotors
• Power Stop
• Brake Parts

If your exact vehicle is not listed, use the site search or filter the full brake parts collection by year and make.

Cost Breakdown - DIY vs Shop

DIY savings scale with vehicle size and job complexity. A full-size truck brake job saves $450-700 in labor. For most passenger cars, plan on 90-120 minutes per axle for pads only, 2-3 hours for pads plus rotors.

Install Tips - Where Most DIYers Go Wrong

• Always replace pads and rotors in axle pairs so braking stays even side to side.
• Rear rotors are vented, so never order solid rear rotors for these trucks by mistake.
• Clean the hub mounting face and torque lugs to spec to prevent runout and pedal pulsation.

Key Takeaways

• The 2015-2022 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon use 6-lug 6x120 wheels, a vented 12.20 in front rotor, and a VENTED ~12.76 in rear rotor. The parking brake is a drum-in-hat shoe setup, not an integral caliper.
• Measure friction material and rotor thickness at every tire rotation - catches wear before it becomes damage.
• Replace pads at 3 mm; below 2 mm is unsafe.
• Loaded calipers (with brackets, pads, and hoses) save 1-1.5 hours of labor per side over bare calipers.
• Bed new pads properly with 8-10 medium stops from 40 to 10 mph.
• Free shipping on orders over $75; same-day shipping on in-stock orders before 2 PM Eastern.

References

1. en.wikipedia.org
2. chevrolet.com
3. tirerack.com
4. tirerack.com