Brake
Brake Shoes
Brake shoes are curved pads that press outward against a brake drum to slow the wheel. We list 31 brake shoe sets from $19 to $76 for 1949-2022 vehicles. The Chevrolet Camaro leads, with sets for the Toyota Tacoma, Dodge Dakota, Silverado 1500 and Volkswagen Jetta, plus driveline parking brake shoes for some trucks.
Shop brake shoes by vehicle
Signs of worn shoes
When you press the pedal, a wheel cylinder pushes the shoes against the inside of the drum. The friction lining wears with use.
Signs include a scraping or grinding noise from the rear, a parking brake that needs more pulls or will not hold, a low pedal, and a pulsing pedal from a scored drum. Remove the drum to inspect the lining. Replace the shoes if the lining is thin, cracked, soaked with oil or brake fluid, or coming loose from the shoe.
Service and parking shoes
Most rear drum brakes use a set of four shoes for two wheels. Vehicles with rear disc brakes often have small drum style parking brake shoes inside the rotor hat, and some trucks use a driveline parking brake. Our listings name rear, front and driveline positions.
Shoes listed here use bonded organic friction material, and some sets include the parking brake lever on the shoe. Replace the hardware kit, springs and adjusters if they are rusty or weak.
Fitment and install
Pick your vehicle and read the fitment table for drum size and axle, since some models offered more than one drum diameter.
Work on one side at a time so you can use the other as a reference. Support the vehicle on jack stands and avoid blowing brake dust into the air. Check the wheel cylinder for leaks while the drum is off. After install, adjust the shoes and set the parking brake per the service manual.
Brake Shoes questions
Should I replace brake shoes and drums together?
Replace the drums if they are past the maximum diameter or badly scored. Otherwise, check them and machine them if allowed.
How many brake shoes come in a set?
A typical axle set has four shoes, two for each wheel. Check the listing, as some parking brake sets differ.
Why does my parking brake not hold after new shoes?
The shoes may need adjusting to the drum, and the parking brake cable may need adjusting too. Follow the service manual steps.