Parts for your 2007 Ford Falcon-Brake shoes

2007 Ford Falcon brake shoes – what they do and when to service them

Technical sources including the Ford BF Falcon Workshop Manual (Section 206-05: Parking Brake), Gregory’s/Ellery’s BA–BF repair manual, and major parts catalogues from Bendix and DBA note that the 2007 Ford Falcon (BF series) runs disc brakes front and rear, with a drum-in-hat parking brake inside the rear rotors. That means it does use brake shoes—specifically for the handbrake—so brake shoes are absolutely relevant on this model.

On a 2007 Falcon, the service brakes rely on pads, but the handbrake uses a pair of small brake shoes that press outwards inside the inner drum of the rear rotor. Their job is to hold the car steady when parked, and to provide a firm, consistent handbrake on hills. When these shoes glaze, wear thin, or go out of adjustment, the handbrake travel gets long and the car may creep when parked, especially with a load or on a slope.

As part of routine servicing, it’s smart to check the handbrake shoes whenever the rear rotors come off, or at least every 40,000–60,000 km. Look for:

• Lining thickness approaching the minimum (typically around 1.5–2.0 mm)
• Oil contamination from a leaking axle seal
• Cracked, glazed, or uneven linings
• Rust or binding at the shoe pivot points and adjuster

Replacement is straightforward for a trained tech: remove the rear rotor, inspect the shoes and hardware, swap in new shoes as a set (left and right), clean and lightly lube the contact points, then adjust. The adjuster star wheel is accessed through an inspection hole in the rotor or backing plate, the goal is a very light drag with the rotor refitted, followed by cable free-play adjustment at the lever. After fitting, bed the shoes in with a few gentle handbrake applications at low speed so they seat evenly.

Handy tips: avoid driving with the handbrake partially on (it’ll glaze the linings), keep the cable correctly adjusted so the lever bites by the third to fifth click, and recheck the adjustment after the first week if new shoes were installed. If the Falcon’s handbrake won’t hold on a hill, the lever travel is excessive, or there’s a scraping noise from the rear, it’s time for an inspection.

Popular questions about 2007 Ford Falcon brake shoes

Do 2007 Ford Falcons have brake shoes or just pads?
They have both. The service brakes use pads on all four corners, while the handbrake uses small drum-style brake shoes inside the rear rotors. This “drum-in-hat” setup is documented in Ford’s BF Workshop Manual and common across BA/BF Falcons.

How often should the handbrake shoes be replaced?
There’s no fixed interval because wear depends on use, but they’re typically inspected every 40,000–60,000 km or whenever the rear rotors are off. Replace if the linings are near minimum thickness, contaminated, cracked, or if the handbrake struggles to hold even after adjustment.

What are the signs the Falcon’s brake shoes need attention?
Long handbrake lever travel, poor holding on hills, a rough grinding noise inside the rear rotor, or a shudder when applying the handbrake during low-speed bedding indicate wear, glazing, or misadjustment. Oil on the shoes from a seal leak also calls for immediate replacement and seal repair.