Parts for your 2017 Subaru Xv-Brake shoes

2017 Subaru XV brake shoes: what they are, why they matter, and when to replace them

Yes, brake shoes are relevant to the 2017 Subaru XV. Subaru’s factory workshop information for the XV/Impreza GP platform specifies a rear disc brake with an internal drum-style parking brake (“drum-in-disc”) that uses brake shoes, and genuine parts catalogues list a parking-brake shoe set for 2012–2017 XV models. Major aftermarket catalogues in Australia and New Zealand also list rear parking-brake shoes and hardware for this vehicle. That means the service brakes use pads and rotors, while the parking brake relies on a small set of shoes hidden inside the rear disc’s hat section.

On the 2017 XV, those shoes aren’t there to pull the car up from speed, they’re there to hold it still when parked. When the handbrake is applied, the shoes expand against the inner drum surface of the rear rotors, locking the wheels so the car doesn’t roll on a hill or when it’s hit by a gusty nor’wester.

Because they don’t do the heavy stopping, these shoes often last years. But they still need love. As part of routine servicing, a tech should:

• Inspect shoe lining thickness and evenness, and check for glazing, cracking or oil/grease contamination from a weeping hub or axle seal.
• Clean dust from the drum-in-hat area, and lightly lubricate the shoe contact points on the backing plate with a high-temp brake grease (never the friction surfaces).
• Check and free up the star-wheel adjuster and the operating lever, then set the parking-brake clearance so the lever travel feels crisp.
• Inspect/replace hardware (springs, pins, clips) that’s tired or corroded, weak springs cause drag and noise.
• Measure the inner drum surface of the rear rotor, if it’s scored or out of round, replace the rotor (the drum is part of the rotor hat).

Replacement is straightforward but fiddly: the rear rotors come off, the old shoes and hardware are removed, contact points are dressed and lubed, new shoes/hardware are fitted, and the adjuster is set before refitting the rotors and fine-tuning at the lever/cable. After new shoes, bedding them in with gentle, brief applications of the parking brake at low speed in a safe area helps them seat properly.

How often? There’s no fixed kilometre interval. A good rule in AU/NZ is to inspect them at each major service or around every 20,000–30,000 km, and any time the handbrake travel grows long, the car rolls on a slope, or there’s scraping from the rear wheels.

Does the 2017 Subaru XV have brake shoes or just pads?

It has both. The service brakes use pads and rotors at all four corners, while the parking brake uses a separate set of small brake shoes inside the rear rotors. Those shoes hold the car when parked, they’re not used for normal stopping.

How long do the parking-brake shoes last on a 2017 XV?

They can last well over 100,000–150,000 km because they’re only for parking. Lifespan depends on conditions and use. Contamination, seized adjusters, or frequent hard handbrake applications can shorten their life. Regular inspection and adjustment keeps them working sweet as.

What are the signs the XV’s parking-brake shoes need attention?

Tell-tales include long or high handbrake lever travel, the car creeping on an incline, scraping or grinding from the rear when the handbrake is on, or a burning smell after parking on a hill. Any of these call for an inspection, clean, adjust, and possibly new shoes and hardware.