Parts for your 2013 Holden Commodore-Brake shoes

2013 Holden Commodore brake-shoes: what they do and how to look after them

For the 2013 Holden Commodore, brake-shoes are absolutely relevant — but only for the parking (hand) brake. The service brakes are discs with pads front and rear, while the park brake uses small internal brake-shoes that operate on a drum machined into the rear brake rotors (often called a “drum-in-hat” setup). This layout is documented in Holden’s VE/VF Service Manuals under the Park Brake section, and it’s reinforced by parts catalogues from ACDelco and Bendix that list dedicated park-brake shoe sets for 2006–2017 Commodore models. Rotor catalogues from Disc Brakes Australia also note the integral parking-brake drum in the rear rotors for VE Series II and VF.

What do those brake-shoes do? When the park brake is applied, the shoes press outward inside the hat section of the rear rotors to hold the vehicle stationary. They’re separate from the hydraulic braking system, so even if the main pads and discs are fresh, worn or contaminated park-brake shoes can still give a weak hold on hills or cause scraping noises.

As part of routine servicing on a 2013 Commodore, it pays to:

• Inspect the shoe linings for thickness, glazing, cracking, oil/grease contamination, and uneven wear.
• Check the inner drum surface of the rear rotors for grooving or heat spots and clean/deglaze if needed.
• Verify park-brake adjustment so it holds firmly without dragging when released, adjust the star wheel and cable as specified in the Holden service procedure.
• Lubricate the shoe contact points and operating pivots sparingly with the correct high-temp brake lubricant (never on friction surfaces).

Replacement is recommended if the linings are worn beyond spec, cracked, soaked with fluid, or if the drum surface is damaged. When fitting new brake-shoes, clean all hardware, replace tired springs/clips, and bed the shoes in with several gentle applications at low speed so the linings seat evenly. After any rear rotor replacement, re-check park-brake shoe-to-drum clearance because the new hat surface can change the feel and holding power.

Technicians familiar with the VE/VF platform will recognise that a properly adjusted drum-in-hat park brake delivers a positive hold with minimal lever or pedal travel. Keeping these little shoes in good nick is an easy win for day-to-day reliability — especially on steep Kiwi and Aussie driveways.

• Does a 2013 Holden Commodore have brake shoes or just pads?
  Both. It has disc pads for service braking on all four wheels, plus small brake-shoes inside the rear rotors for the parking brake.
• How often should the park-brake shoes be replaced?
  They typically last a long time because they’re not used for stopping at speed. Replace if the linings are worn, contaminated, cracked, noisy, or if adjustment can’t restore a solid hold.
• What are signs the park-brake shoes need attention?
  Poor holding on hills, excessive lever/pedal travel, scraping noises when moving off, or a hot-brake smell after driving can all point to worn or dragging shoes.