Subaru Forester Parking Brake Shoe Kit in US

A parking brake shoe kit for the Subaru Forester restores complete parking brake function, not just the friction lining. The most common reason a freshly serviced Forester parking brake fails to hold on a hill is not worn shoes: it is a seized adjuster that prevents the shoe-to-drum clearance from being correctly set after installation on your Subaru Forester. In the enclosed drum-in-hat cavity of the Forester, road salt and meltwater concentrate corrosion on the adjuster threads, the return springs, and the strut. A kit that includes every hardware component alongside the shoes is the only way to guarantee the Subaru Forester parking brake performs correctly after service.

What Is Included in the Subaru Forester Parking Brake Shoe Kit

The kit for your Subaru Forester includes parking brake shoes with OEM-grade friction lining at the correct arc length and lining width for the Forester drum-in-hat diameter, return springs that retract both shoes cleanly after the Forester parking brake is released, hold-down hardware with springs and pins that locate the shoes while permitting actuation on your Subaru Forester, the parking brake strut connecting both shoes through the Forester mechanism, the adjusting screw assembly setting correct shoe-to-drum clearance for reliable holding force on your Subaru Forester, and retaining clips and washers securing the strut and adjuster in correct operating position on the Forester.

Why the Adjuster Is the Critical Component on the Subaru Forester

The parking brake shoe adjuster on the Subaru Forester sets the gap between the shoes and the inner drum surface of the Forester rotor hat. In American winters, the drum-in-hat cavity of the Forester traps road salt and moisture. The adjuster threads on your Subaru Forester corrode and seize, sometimes within a single winter season. A seized adjuster on the Forester produces a parking brake that either drags against the drum when released or fails to hold the Subaru Forester on a slope when engaged.

Signs the Parking Brake Shoe Kit on Your Subaru Forester Is Due

• Forester parking brake lever or pedal travelling much further than usual before engaging
• Your Subaru Forester creeps forward or rolls back on a moderate slope with the parking brake fully set
• Grinding or scraping sounds when engaging or releasing the Forester parking brake
• Parking brake warning light staying on after release on your Subaru Forester
• Subaru Forester parking brake shoes at or below minimum lining thickness during a rear brake service

Why GeoBrakes for the Subaru Forester Parking Brake Shoe Kit

Parking brake shoe kits for the Subaru Forester are among the most vehicle-specific brake components in the catalogue. The shoe arc length, lining width, spring rates, strut length, and adjuster thread specification for the Forester are all determined by the specific drum-in-hat diameter of the Subaru Forester rotor. Every kit in the GeoBrakes catalogue is assembled for the Subaru Forester exact year and model, with zinc-plated or coated hardware components to resist the concentrated corrosion inside the Forester drum-in-hat cavity.

Frequently Asked Questions - Subaru Forester Parking Brake Shoe Kits

How do I know if my Subaru Forester uses parking brake shoes?

Subaru Forester vehicles with four-wheel disc brakes often use a drum-in-hat parking brake requiring separate shoes. Some Forester variants instead use a caliper-actuated parking brake. Use the GeoBrakes vehicle selector to confirm your Subaru Forester parking brake type and find the correct kit.

My Subaru Forester parking brake light stays on after I release it, do the shoes need replacing?

A warning light that stays on after full release on the Subaru Forester can indicate worn shoes, a faulty sensor, low brake fluid, or a stretched cable on the Forester. If the Subaru Forester fails to hold on a slope, a shoe kit replacement combined with cable and adjuster inspection is the recommended starting point for your Forester.

Can I adjust the parking brake on my Subaru Forester after installing a shoe kit without replacing the cable?

Yes, if the Forester cable is in good condition and within its adjustment range. After correct shoe installation and adjuster setting on the Subaru Forester, adjust the cable until the brake holds firmly within three to five clicks of Forester lever travel.