Parts for your 2013 Honda Elysion-Brake shoes

2013 Honda Elysion Brake Shoes — What They Do and When to Replace

Based on technical references — including the Honda Elysion (RR1–RR6) service manual section for Brakes: Parking Brake (drum-in-disc type) and Honda’s Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) listings for a Parking Brake Shoe Set and related hardware — the 2013 Honda Elysion does use brake shoes. They’re not part of the hydraulic service brakes, instead, they sit inside the “hat” of the rear brake rotors and serve solely as the mechanical parking brake.

On this model, the foot or hand-operated parking brake spreads a pair of small drum shoes against the inside of the rear rotor hat. That gives reliable holding power when parked on a hill without affecting the main disc pads and calipers. It’s a smart, tidy design used widely across Honda’s larger vehicles of the era.

For owners and workshops, the purpose of these brake shoes is simple: hold the Elysion steady when parked, and do it consistently. Because they’re only used when the vehicle is stationary or moving very slowly during testing, they wear far more slowly than the main pads. Contamination from axle seal leaks, moisture, or dust is a more common issue than lining wear.

• Typical signs they need attention: weak holding on inclines, a high or inconsistent parking brake lever/pedal travel, scraping or grinding from inside the rear rotors, or uneven hold left to right.
• Good servicing practice: inspect every 20,000 km or 12 months, clean out dust, check lining thickness, and verify the star-wheel adjusters move freely. Adjust the shoes so there’s a light, even drag, then set cable free-play to spec.

When replacement is needed, it’s best to renew both rear shoe sets as an axle pair and fit a fresh spring/hold-down hardware kit at the same time. If a rotor won’t slip off, back off the shoe adjuster through the access hole in the backing plate. A small dab of high-temp brake grease on the star adjuster threads and shoe contact points (never on the linings) helps everything move smoothly next service.

After fitting, bed the parking brake shoes in with a few gentle applications at low speed (for example, 30–40 km/h, light parking brake engagement for a second or two, then cool). That helps the linings conform to the drum surface inside the rotor. With this setup dialled in, the 2013 Honda Elysion’s park brake will hold firmly and predictably in everyday Aussie and Kiwi conditions.

Popular questions about 2013 Honda Elysion brake shoes

Does the 2013 Honda Elysion have brake shoes or just pads?
Yes, it has both. The service brakes use pads and discs all round, while the parking brake uses small drum-type shoes inside the rear rotors. The shoes provide mechanical holding power when parked.

How often should the parking brake shoes be replaced?
There’s no strict kilometre interval because they see light use, but they should be inspected every 20,000 km or 12 months. Replace them if the linings are thin, contaminated, cracked, or if the vehicle won’t hold well on a hill even after proper adjustment.

Can the parking brake be adjusted if the lever travel feels high?
Yes. The correct process is to adjust the shoes first via the star wheel through the backing plate access, aiming for light, even drag, then fine-tune the cable free-play. Cable-only adjustment without setting the shoes won’t give a strong, even hold.