Parts for your 2018 Ford Everest-Brake shoes

Understanding Brake Shoes on the 2018 Ford Everest

The 2018 Ford Everest is a popular SUV in Australia, known for its robust build and capable performance, especially in off-road conditions. When it comes to the braking system on the 2018 Ford Everest, it's important to understand the components involved, particularly whether brake shoes play a role in stopping this vehicle.

Brake shoes are part of a drum brake system, which has traditionally been used on the rear wheels of many older or more basic vehicles. These brake shoes consist of curved friction material that presses outwards against the inside of a spinning brake drum to slow the car. They are quite different from brake pads, which clamp down on a disc in a disc brake setup.

For the 2018 Ford Everest, however, the braking system does not typically use brake shoes. Instead, the Everest features disc brakes on all four wheels. This means that rather than brake shoes, the vehicle relies on brake pads, calipers, and rotors to bring the SUV to a halt. Disc brakes offer several advantages over drum brakes, including better heat dissipation, improved stopping power, and easier maintenance. Given the Everest's size, weight, and intended use, disc brakes provide the greater performance and reliability expected in a modern SUV.

So why aren't brake shoes used on the 2018 Ford Everest? The main reason comes down to performance and technology. Drum brakes, which use brake shoes, are effective but have been largely phased out on modern vehicles in favour of disc brakes, especially on heavier and more performance-oriented models like the Everest. Drum brakes can overheat more easily and suffer from "brake fade" under heavy use, which is a real concern for SUVs used in tough driving conditions including off-road trails or towing heavy loads.

Disc brakes, by contrast, stay cooler because the rotor is exposed directly to the air, which helps maintain consistent braking performance. This allows the Everest to deliver safer and more reliable stopping power whether the vehicle is cruising down the highway or crawling up a steep gravel track. The trend in automotive engineering has been clear for years now: vehicles like the 2018 Ford Everest use disc brakes all around for their enhanced performance characteristics.

Even if drum brakes have mostly disappeared from primary braking systems on modern SUVs like the Everest, sometimes drum brakes and brake shoes might still be found on the parking brake mechanisms. In some models, the parking brake system consists of a small drum brake hidden inside the rear brake discs, where brake shoes might be present. This setup is called a drum-in-disc parking brake arrangement. But this is strictly for holding the vehicle stationary when parked and not for active braking while driving.

For owners of the 2018 Ford Everest, understanding this difference is helpful when it comes to maintenance and repairs. Since the vehicle doesn't use brake shoes for its main braking function, there's no need to check or replace brake shoes as part of regular brake servicing. Instead, the focus should be on inspecting the brake pads, rotors, brake fluid, and calipers to keep the braking system in top shape.

Brake pads on the Everest wear out over time and with use - particularly if the vehicle regularly hauls heavy loads or is used in rugged environments. Regular brake inspections, typically every 15,000 to 30,000 kilometres depending on driving habits, will ensure the brake pads are replaced before they cause damage to the rotors or affect stopping performance. Rotors themselves may also require servicing or replacement as they can wear or warp under extreme conditions.

It's also important to keep an eye on the brake fluid, as it can absorb moisture over time, potentially leading to reduced braking efficiency or damage to brake system components. Fluid should be flushed and replaced at intervals recommended by Ford, generally every two years or as specified in the owner's manual.

In a nutshell, while the term "brake shoes" might be familiar to many motorists, they are not a relevant part for the 2018 Ford Everest's main braking system. Sticking to disc brake maintenance and paying attention to brake pads and related components will keep this SUV stopping safely and effectively.