Parts for your 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero-Brake shoes

1997 Mitsubishi Pajero brake-shoes — what they do and when to replace them

Based on the Mitsubishi Factory Service Manual for the V20-series Pajero (1997, Section 35A Brakes), the Mitsubishi ASA global parts catalogue, and widely used service guides (e.g., Haynes and Gregory’s manuals for Pajero/Montero of this era), brake shoes are indeed relevant to the 1997 Pajero. Most 1997 Pajero variants run rear disc brakes for service braking, with a drum-in-hat style parking brake that uses dedicated brake shoes inside the rear rotor hat. Certain market trims may also use rear drum brakes, which rely on brake shoes for normal braking as well. Either way, brake shoes are fitted to this model year.

On a 1997 Pajero with rear discs, the brake shoes handle parking brake duties. They bite inside a small drum cast into the rear brake rotor, locking the vehicle when parked and offering reliable holding on steep Aussie and Kiwi hills. Where fitted with rear drums, the shoes also provide day-to-day rear braking. In both setups, clean, correctly adjusted shoes mean a firm handbrake feel, steady hill-holds, and less faff at warrants and rego checks.

Good servicing keeps them sweet:

• Inspect shoe linings for thickness, even wear, glazing, or contamination (oil or brake fluid).
• Clean with proper brake cleaner, never use greasy solvents. Lightly lubricate only the approved contact points and pivots with high-temp brake grease.
• Check the drum surface inside the rotor hat (or the drum, if fitted) for lips, scores, or rust ridges.
• Adjust the star wheel through the backing plate slot so the handbrake bites firmly in a few clicks without dragging.
• Replace shoes in axle sets and bed them in gently with a few low-speed applications of the handbrake on a safe, flat road.

Owners who tow, wade creeks, or hit dusty tracks should expect faster wear or glazing. Watch for tell-tales like too many lever clicks, poor holding on hills, scraping noises, or a burning whiff after using the handbrake. If the vehicle has rear drums, also check for wheel cylinder leaks. When shoes are worn, soaked, cracked, or the drum surface is shot, replacement is the go. Done right, fresh and adjusted shoes make the Pajero feel tidy, safe, and ready for the next run up the coast or over the ranges.

Does a 1997 Pajero have brake shoes or pads?

Both. It uses pads for the service brakes at the front (and usually the rear), and brake shoes for the parking brake inside the rear rotor hat. Some market variants of this year may have rear drum brakes, which use shoes for normal braking as well.

How long do Pajero parking brake shoes last?

Often many years, as they only work when parked or lightly during bedding-in. Life depends on hills, towing, off-road muck, and water crossings. A quick check each service and a proper inspection every 20,000–30,000 kilometres is a safe bet.

Can the handbrake be tightened without new shoes?

Sometimes. Adjusting the star wheel and handbrake cable can restore bite. But if the linings are worn, glazed, or contaminated, adjustment won’t mask the problem—new shoes and a clean drum surface are the fix.