Parts for your 2022 Subaru Impreza-Brake shoes

2022 Subaru Impreza brake shoes — what they are and how to look after them

Based on Subaru technical literature — the Subaru Global Service Manual for the GK/GT Impreza (MY2017–2022), the 2022 Impreza Owner’s Manual, and the Subaru Electronic Parts Catalogue for MY2022 — this model uses brake shoes as part of a drum-in-hat parking brake inside the rear brake rotors. The primary service brakes are discs with pads, while the handbrake uses internal brake shoes to hold the car when parked.

Those parking brake shoes sit inside the “hat” section of the rear rotors. When the lever is pulled, a mechanical cable spreads the shoes against the drum surface, locking the rear wheels. It’s a simple, reliable setup that gives a strong, consistent hold on steep Aussie and Kiwi hills without affecting the hydraulic disc system.

For day-to-day ownership, these shoes usually wear slowly, but they still need periodic attention. During regular servicing, a technician should remove the rear rotors, inspect the shoe linings for thickness and glazing, and check the drum surface for scoring. They’ll also clean dust, verify the automatic or star-wheel adjusters move freely, and ensure the cables and return springs aren’t seized or stretched.

Typical signs the Impreza’s parking brake shoes need love include:

• Excessive lever travel or a weak hold on a hill
• Scraping, grinding, or chirping from the rear when rolling slowly
• Uneven hold left-to-right, or a pulsing feel through the lever

Best practice is to inspect the shoes at regular service intervals (for many drivers, every 20,000–30,000 km or two services), especially if the car sees coastal conditions, gravel roads, or frequent hill parking. If the linings are thin, oil-soaked, cracked, or heavily glazed, replace them in axle pairs. When replacing, the tech should deglaze the drum surface, clean and lightly lube the contact points (not the friction surfaces), refresh the springs if tired, and adjust the shoes so the drum just clears without drag. After refitting, they’ll fine-tune cable free-play and confirm the lever clicks are within spec.

Owners can help by using the handbrake regularly to keep everything moving, avoiding parking with hot brakes after spirited driving, and booking an inspection if the lever feel changes. Done right, the Impreza’s brake shoes deliver quiet, confidence-inspiring parking performance for years.

Popular questions

Does the 2022 Subaru Impreza actually have brake shoes?
Yes. While the service brakes are discs with pads at all four corners, Subaru fits drum-style parking brake shoes inside the rear rotors (drum-in-hat). This is documented in Subaru’s service manual and parts catalogue for the GK/GT Impreza platform.

How often should the parking brake shoes be serviced or replaced?
They’re long-lasting but should be inspected and adjusted during routine servicing, typically every 20,000–30,000 km or if the lever travel increases. Replacement is needed if the linings are worn, contaminated, cracked, or heavily glazed, and should be done in axle sets.

What symptoms suggest the Impreza’s brake shoes need attention?
Look for excessive lever travel, a weak hold on a hill, scraping noises at low speed, or uneven holding side-to-side. Any of these warrant a proper inspection and adjustment, and possibly new shoes and hardware.