Parts for your 2013 Subaru Forester-Brake shoes

2013 Subaru Forester brake-shoes: what they do and how to look after them

Referencing the Subaru Workshop Manual for the SH-series Forester (2013) and Subaru’s official parts catalogue, this model runs rear disc brakes paired with a drum-in-hat parking brake that uses brake shoes. That means brake-shoes are absolutely relevant on a 2013 Subaru Forester—specifically for the handbrake/parking brake inside the rear rotor hat.

The brake-shoes’ job is simple but vital: when the handbrake is pulled, the shoes expand inside the small drum section of the rear rotor and hold the vehicle still. Unlike the brake pads that stop the car when the pedal’s pressed, these shoes are mostly for parking and hill holding. Because they’re used differently, they usually wear far more slowly than the pads, but they still need periodic inspection, cleaning, and adjustment.

For servicing, the focus is on condition and clearance. Subaru service information specifies checking lining thickness and hardware condition, and adjusting the star wheel so the shoes lightly drag, then backing off to achieve correct free-rotation and proper lever travel. If the lever travel is excessive, the car rolls on slight gradients, or there’s scraping from the rear at low speeds, the shoes may need adjustment or replacement. Oil contamination from a hub seal or a glazed lining can also reduce holding power and calls for fresh shoes and hardware.

Good workshop practice includes:

• Inspecting friction lining and replacing if it’s worn near the service limit (around 1.5 mm), cracked, or contaminated.
• Refreshing the hardware (springs and hold-downs) to keep even shoe return and prevent noise.
• Cleaning the drum surface inside the rotor hat and deglazing the shoe faces.
• Adjusting the star wheel through the access hole, then verifying handbrake lever clicks are within spec and the car holds on a hill.
• Re-torquing wheel nuts to the correct spec (about 120 N·m) and bedding-in the parking brake with a few gentle applications at suburban speeds to stabilise the lining.

Most owners won’t need new brake-shoes nearly as often as pads—many last well past 100,000 km—but they do benefit from a check at each rear brake service or whenever the rear rotors come off. Following Subaru’s workshop guidance helps the Forester hold firm, stay quiet, and keep the handbrake feeling tidy and consistent.

Popular questions about 2013 Subaru Forester brake-shoes

Do 2013 Foresters have brake-shoes or only pads?
Yes. The 2013 Subaru Forester uses disc pads for service braking and separate brake-shoes inside the rear rotor hat for the parking brake. Subaru’s SH-series workshop manual and parts listings both describe the drum-in-hat handbrake design with dedicated shoes.

How often should the parking brake-shoes be replaced?
There’s no fixed kilometre interval because wear depends on use. Many last well beyond 100,000 km. Inspect them whenever rear rotors are off or if handbrake performance drops. Replace if the lining is near the service limit, glazed, cracked, or oil-soaked, and renew the hardware for best results.

What are signs the handbrake shoes need adjustment?
Excess lever travel, weak holding on slight hills, or a light scraping noise at low speeds can point to shoes that need cleaning and adjustment. A quick star-wheel tweak, as outlined in Subaru’s service procedures, usually restores proper lever feel and holding power.