Brake shoes are the curved friction components that press outward against the inside surface of a brake drum to slow the vehicle. Drum brakes remain standard on the rear axle of a large proportion of small and medium family cars, as well as on the rear wheels of many light commercial vehicles, because they deliver excellent holding force for the handbrake. Unlike disc brakes, which wear fairly evenly, drum brake shoes wear at different rates on the primary and secondary shoe within each assembly, and the self-energising geometry means a seized adjuster or contaminated lining can produce an uneven braking response — the car pulling to one side when the brakes are applied. Glazed or oil-contaminated linings are a common failure mode, typically caused by a leaking wheel cylinder or a drum that has overheated. Matching the OE reference is important because lining compound, shoe width, and arc radius are all chassis-specific. Bosch and Brembo are among the brands covering the widest range of OE applications in this category, along with TRW, which supplies original-equipment shoes to several major manufacturers. Shoes should always be replaced as a complete axle set so friction characteristics remain balanced side to side.
Each brake shoe set listed here is linked to specific vehicle applications via TecDoc OE references. Use your make, model, year, and engine code to filter results, or cross-reference the part number stamped on your existing shoes. Note that rear drum brake specifications can differ between the same model variant with different axle loads or handbrake configurations, so confirming the OE number against your exact variant is more reliable than matching by vehicle name alone.
OEM brake shoes are manufactured to the vehicle maker's original friction compound specifications, ensuring consistent pedal feel and stopping distance. Aftermarket sets from established suppliers such as Bosch and TRW use equivalent compound formulations and meet or exceed the original performance levels. Budget alternatives may use a harder compound that either extends fade resistance at the cost of cold-bite performance, or uses a softer compound that wears quickly — both represent a compromise from the OE-matched specification.
Always replace brake shoes as a complete axle set — both left and right simultaneously. Because both sides operate at the same temperature and under the same loads, replacing only one side introduces an asymmetry in friction coefficient that causes the vehicle to pull sideways under braking. The difference in pad material age also becomes apparent when the brakes are applied cold, as the older side will generate significantly less initial bite than the freshly bedded replacement.
A grinding or scraping noise when slowing, particularly noticeable at low speeds, is the clearest sign that the friction lining has worn down to the metal backing. A longer stopping distance, a spongy or low pedal, or a car that pulls to one side under braking all indicate shoe-related problems. Periodic visual inspection through the drum — on vehicles that allow it — can confirm lining thickness before audible symptoms appear. Drum brake systems should generally be inspected every 20,000–30,000 miles.
Showing 100 of 9,519 Brake-shoe set OE numbers. Enter the OE on the main OE search to jump to any reference.
