Parts for your 1998 Ford Falcon-Brake shoes

1998 Ford Falcon brake shoes: are they used or not?

For most 1998 Ford Falcon passenger models, brake shoes aren’t used. Technical references including the Ford Falcon AU Series Workshop Manual (Ford Motor Company, 1998), Gregory’s Service and Repair Manual No. 271 (Falcon AU, 1998–2002) and Ellery’s Workshop Manual (Falcon EF–EL, 1994–1998) specify four-wheel disc brakes on EL (late) and AU sedans and wagons. Those cars run rear disc calipers with a mechanically actuated handbrake built into the caliper, not a drum-in-hat setup, so there are no rear brake shoes to service. Period parts catalogues from PBR and Bosch also list brake pads (not shoes) for EL/AU passenger variants.

Why no brake shoes on these Falcons? Ford standardised four-wheel discs on mainstream passenger Falcons by the late EL and into the AU range to improve heat management, pedal feel and performance in Aussie conditions. With discs front and rear, the friction material is a pad, not a shoe, and the handbrake locks the rear caliper via a lever, rather than expanding shoes inside a drum. That means anyone chasing “brake shoes” for a 1998 Falcon sedan or wagon is actually after rear brake pads, not shoes.

There are a couple of edge cases worth noting:

• Falcon XH ute/van (which overlapped 1998) commonly retained rear drum brakes, which do use brake shoes. Different platform to EL/AU passenger cars.
• Later BA/BF Falcons (2002-on) introduced a drum-in-hat park brake that uses small shoes inside the rear rotor. That’s a different generation.

For 1998 EL/AU sedans and wagons, servicing should focus on pads and rotors, cleaning and lubricating the rear caliper slide pins, checking the handbrake lever on the caliper for free movement, and flushing brake fluid at the recommended interval. If the rear brakes look like a flat disc with a caliper, they’re pads, if there’s a sealed drum, that’s a ute/van setup with shoes.

Popular questions about 1998 Ford Falcon brake shoes

Do 1998 Falcon sedans or wagons have brake shoes?
No. According to Ford’s AU Series Workshop Manual and Gregory’s manuals, the 1998 EL (late) and AU passenger Falcons use rear disc brakes with pads and a caliper-integrated handbrake. No brake shoes are fitted on those models.

Which 1998 Falcons might actually use brake shoes?
The XH ute/van range (still sold in 1998) typically runs rear drum brakes, so they use brake shoes. If it’s a sedan or wagon from late EL or AU, expect four-wheel discs and pads.

What should be serviced instead of brake shoes on a 1998 Falcon sedan or wagon?
Replace rear brake pads and inspect rotors, clean/lube caliper slide pins, check the handbrake lever on the caliper and cables, and bleed the brake fluid. That’s the correct maintenance path for EL/AU passenger cars.