Parts for your 2013 Toyota Crown-Brake shoes

2013 Toyota Crown brake shoes — what they do and when to replace them

Based on Toyota’s technical documentation for the S210 series Crown (GRS210/ARS210/AWS210, MY2013) and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue, this model runs rear disc brakes for service braking and a separate drum-in-hat parking brake that uses brake shoes. The Toyota workshop manual includes a “Parking Brake (Drum Type)” section covering removal, installation and adjustment of these shoes, confirming they’re fitted to the 2013 Toyota Crown.

On this Crown, the brake shoes live inside the “hat” of the rear brake rotor and handle the parking brake duties. They’re not what stops the car in normal driving — that’s the job of the pads and discs — but they lock the rear wheels when parked so the vehicle stays put on a hill. Because they’re used intermittently, they wear more slowly than pads, yet they can glaze, rust, or seize if the car sits for long periods.

Good servicing keeps them reliable. A quick inspection every 12 months or 20,000 km is sensible in Aussie and Kiwi conditions. Look for cracked or oil-soaked linings, uneven wear, and a seized adjuster. If the lining is approaching the service limit (typically around 1.0–1.5 mm), or the inner drum of the rotor is badly scored, replacement is on the cards. Always replace shoes as a pair on the axle and refresh the hardware springs and clips — tired springs cause weak holding and uneven contact.

Adjustment matters. After fitting shoes, set the star-wheel adjuster until there’s a light, even drag, then back it off slightly. Operate the parking brake lever or pedal several times to centre the shoes and re-check the drag. Cable free play should be within spec so the brake fully releases — dragging shoes can overheat the drum and cook the linings. Keep grease off the friction surfaces, only a dab of high-temp brake lubricant on the shoe contact points and backing plate bosses is needed.

Signs it’s time for attention:

• Weak holding on an incline or a high lever/pedal travel
• Scraping, grinding or a metallic squeal when applying the parking brake
• Rear wheel drag after release, hot brake smell, or poor roll

After replacement, bed the parking brake in with a few gentle applications at low speed to seat the linings. Quality aftermarket or genuine Toyota shoes both do the job, the key is correct fitment and adjustment so the Crown stays secure every time it’s parked.

Popular questions about 2013 Toyota Crown brake shoes

Does the 2013 Toyota Crown have brake shoes or only brake pads?
The 2013 Crown has both. It uses pads and discs for normal braking, plus a separate drum-in-hat setup with brake shoes for the parking brake. This design gives consistent service braking while keeping a reliable mechanical park brake.

How often should the parking brake shoes be replaced or adjusted?
There’s no fixed kilometre interval because wear depends on usage, but inspecting and adjusting annually or every 20,000 km works well. Replace when the lining nears the service limit, the inner drum is scored, or holding force drops even after adjustment.

What causes weak holding or dragging from the Crown’s parking brake?
Common culprits are glazed linings, a seized adjuster, stretched cables, contaminated shoes (from diff or axle seal leaks), or tired return springs. A proper clean, hardware refresh, and correct star-wheel and cable adjustment usually sorts it.