CeO2 nanoparticles prepared by the in-situ synthesis method were used to strengthen the polyamide-imide/polytetrafluoroethylene (PAI/PTFE) lubricating coatings. The crystalline phases and micro-structure of the lubricating coatings were characterized by XRD and SEM. A CSM friction machine was used to test the tribological properties of the coatings. The experimental results showed that CeO2 nanoparticles synthesized in-situ in the PAI/PTFE coatings had good dispersion and a narrow range of particle size (about 80 nm–110nm). The addition of CeO2 nanoparticles could effectively promote the micro-hardness and anti-wear performance of the coatings. Furthermore, the PAI/PTFE lubricating coating filled with 5 wt% CeO2 nanoparticles exhibited superior micro-hardness and wear resistance. In practical applications, The PAI/PTFE lubricating coating filled with 5 wt% CeO2 nanoparticles is more suitable for high max sliding velocity and low applied load.