Parts for your 2013 Subaru Tribeca-Brake shoes

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

Yes, brake shoes are relevant on a 2013 Subaru Tribeca. Technical references including the Subaru Factory Service Manual (Parking Brake section) and OE parts catalogues for the 2013 Tribeca list rear drum-in-hat parking brake shoes. The Tribeca uses disc pads and rotors for normal braking, while a small set of internal drum brake shoes inside the rear rotor (the “hat”) handles the handbrake/parking brake function.

Those parking brake shoes are there to hold the Tribeca steady when it’s parked, and to provide an emergency mechanical stop if the hydraulics ever fail. Actuated by a cable at the handbrake lever, the shoes expand against the inner drum surface of the rear rotors. They use return springs, a star-wheel adjuster and small retaining clips—hardware that needs to be clean, free-moving, and correctly tensioned.

As part of servicing a 2013-subaru-tribeca brake-shoes setup, it’s smart to inspect the lining thickness, glazing, heat spots, and any contamination from grease or brake fluid. Many workshops check them at regular brake services or tyre rotations, typically every 12 months or 20,000–25,000 kilometres. If the linings are at or near the Subaru service limit, cracked, oil-soaked, or separating from the shoe, replacement is due.

When replacing, do both sides as a set. Clean the drum surface inside the rotor hat, renew the shoe hardware kit (springs/clips) if fatigued, and service the adjuster so it turns freely. Avoid touching the friction surface with oily hands. After refitting, adjust the star wheel so the drum just brushes, then back it off slightly to prevent drag. Refit the rotor, pump the handbrake lever, and fine-tune through the access hole. A quick bedding-in at low speed—lightly applying the handbrake for a few short snubs—helps seat new shoes. Finally, confirm the handbrake holds on a reasonable gradient with a few clicks at the lever.

• Tell-tales they need attention: weak holding on hills, excessive lever travel, scraping or grinding from the rear, a burning smell after parking, or uneven shoe wear.
• Keep the cables free-moving, replace frayed or seized cables rather than over-tightening the adjuster to compensate.
• Use quality friction material matched to everyday Aussie and Kiwi conditions, and torque wheel nuts correctly after any brake work.

Done right, the Tribeca’s parking brake shoes give reliable holding power and a solid, confident handbrake feel.

Do the 2013 Subaru Tribeca’s brakes use shoes or just pads?

It has both. The main service brakes are discs with pads front and rear. Separate drum-in-hat parking brake shoes live inside the rear rotors and work only for the handbrake function.

How often should the Tribeca’s parking brake shoes be adjusted or replaced?

Have them inspected during routine services (around every 12 months or 20,000–25,000 km). Adjust when lever travel gets long or holding force drops. Replace if the linings are worn to the Subaru service limit, glazed, cracked, or contaminated.

Can the parking brake feel be improved without replacing the shoes?

Often, yes. Cleaning the drum surface, freeing and lubricating the star-wheel adjuster (with the correct high-temp brake lubricant on the threads only), and setting the clearance correctly can markedly improve the handbrake feel—provided the linings and hardware are still within spec.