Parts for your 2016 Subaru Exiga-Brake shoes

2016 Subaru Exiga brake-shoes

Based on Subaru’s factory service information for the YA-series Exiga (Brake and Parking Brake sections) and mainstream parts catalogues used in Australasia (including Subaru EPC/FAST and aftermarket catalogues that list rear park-brake shoes for the 2008–2018 Exiga), this model does use brake shoes — but only inside the rear brake discs as a drum-in-hat style parking brake. The main service brakes are discs front and rear, the shoes are dedicated to holding the car when parked.

On a 2016 Subaru Exiga, the brake shoes live inside the “hat” section of the rear discs and clamp outward against a small drum surface when the handbrake is applied. Their job is simple but important: keep the Exiga steady on hills, at the boat ramp, or when parked with a load on board. Because they’re not stopping the car at speed, they usually wear slowly, but they can glaze, rust, or get contaminated if a rear axle seal weeps or if the car’s parked up wet for long periods.

As part of routine servicing, it’s smart to inspect the park-brake shoes every 20,000–40,000 kilometres or annually. A tech will remove the rear discs, check the shoe linings for thickness and cracking, clean out dust, and make sure the return springs and adjusters move freely. If the shoes are oily, unevenly worn, or the hardware’s tired, replace them as an axle set and fit a new spring/fitment kit. If the drum surface inside the disc is scored, the disc may need machining or replacement.

Common signs the Exiga’s park-brake shoes need attention include:

• Weak holding power on a hill or a lever that pulls up too high
• Scraping or grabbing noises from the rear when the handbrake is used
• Park-brake drag after rain or washing

After fitting new shoes, the adjuster should be set so the drum just brushes, then backed off slightly for free rotation. Bed them in with a few gentle applications at low speed on a quiet road, then recheck the adjustment. Always replace shoes in pairs, keep the friction faces clean, and avoid driving with the handbrake partially on — that’ll cook them in no time.

Popular questions about 2016 Subaru Exiga brake-shoes

Do the 2016 Exiga’s rear brakes use shoes or pads?
The service brakes use pads on discs, but there are also small drum-type brake shoes inside the rear discs for the parking brake. So it has both: pads for stopping, shoes for holding.

How often should the Exiga’s park-brake shoes be replaced?
There’s no fixed kilometre interval. Have them inspected every 20,000–40,000 km or yearly, and replace if the linings are worn, glazed, cracked, contaminated with oil, or if the hardware is corroded or weak.

Can the Exiga’s park-brake be upgraded to an electronic system?
The 2016 Exiga uses a mechanical, cable-operated drum-in-hat parking brake. Converting to an electronic park brake isn’t common, requires major parts changes, and generally isn’t recommended for cost and compliance reasons.