Brake Shoes

Brake shoes are a part of a drum brake system. Crescent-shaped, they are lined with a friction-creating material on one side and sit inside the brake drum. When the brake pedal is depressed, it is the role of the brake shoe to push against the inside of the brake drum and help to slow the wheel.

Brake shoes, which can be used with both disc and drum brakes, are found in automotive, railway, cycling and agricultural industries. Widely available, brake shoes are made specific to several applications and specifications with regards to size and material. While originally asbestos was used in nearly every brake system, health hazards related to the substance gave cause to develop and use several other materials in the making of brake shoes. Steel, copper, iron and several alloys with durable and heat resistant qualities are often used in the production of brake shoes.
Ceramic components continue to grow in popularity as well due to their durability, energy absorption and decreased noise production as compared to metal counterparts which emit a grinding noise when worn. Advanced adhesives or rivets are then used to affix the necessary pad or lining. These linings are even more variable including semi-metallic compounds, plastics, mineral fibers, aramid fibers, ceramics, cellulose and even chopped glass fibers. It is important to consider wear rates and performance when selecting a specific friction material for brake systems.

Removing brake drums
● Jack the vehicle up and remove the wheel. Park the vehicle on a firm, level surface. Use a tire iron or the appropriate socket to loosen the lug nuts on the first rear wheel, then slide a jack beneath one of the vehicle’s rear designated jack points to lift the vehicle up.

● Remove the dust cap with a screwdriver. With the wheel removed, you will be able to see the outside of the brake drum directly behind where the wheel used to be. The center of the circular brake drum is a removable dust cap. Slide a flat head screw driver into the gap beneath the dust cap and pry it toward you to remove it.

● Use a ratchet to unscrew the axle bearing nut. Beneath the dust cover, you’ll find the axle bearing nut. This large nut is usually a 22 or 24 millimeter metric socket, or a 7/8” standard socket. Use a breaker bar or half inch drive ratchet to turn the nut counterclockwise in order to remove it.

● Twist the drum as you pull it backward to remove it. With the axle nut removed, the drum will no longer be held in place, but may still be stuck on due to rust or grime. Twist the drum slightly as you remove it to break it free from any rust.

● Spray the drum with rust remover if it’s stuck. Rust removers like can help loosen the grip created by rust on your vehicle’s drums. Spray it around the outside circumference of the drum where it meets the vehicle and give it a few minutes to set in. Then attempt to remove the drum again.

Pulling out old brake pads
● Use pliers to remove the primary brake shoe springs. The primary brake shoe springs are the large springs located beneath the drum once you remove it. Some vehicles will have one spring for each brake pad, while others may have two. All of the springs will need to be disconnected to relieve the tension and allow you to remove the pads.

● Pull out the brake shoe clips. Use the same needle nose pliers to remove the clips that hold the brake shoe in place. There should be two clips inside the brake system that need to be removed prior to removing the pads themselves.

● Remove the parking brake cable. The parking brake cable will be much easier to remove after the spring tension has been relieved. In some applications, it may be easier to remove the parking brake cable after you’ve pulled the brake shoe set away from the backing plate.

● Pull the brake shoe set free from the backing plate. Grip the brake pads on either side and pull them directly toward you to separate them from the backing plate. The springs will come with the brake shoe set, but the parking brake cable should remain with the vehicle.

Replacing brake pads
● Place the new brake set next to the old one. Lay out the new brake pad set on a table, then place the brake shoe set you just removed from the vehicle down on the table next to it. Be sure there are no other parts on the table that can get mixed up with the components as you transfer them from the old set to the new one.

● Swap components onto the new set. Starting with the springs, remove the components on the brake shoe set you pulled from your vehicle and place them on the new brake pads until the new pads are ready to be installed back into the vehicle.

● Reset the parking brake adjuster. The parking brake adjuster will need to be transferred along with the springs as you transfer the hardware from the old brake set to the new one. Push the adjuster wheel away from the pin as you install it onto the new brakes.

● Hold the brake spring away from the end of the cable. Use a pair of pliers or dikes to pull the parking brake spring away from the end of the cable. This will leave the end of the cable exposed to make it easier to install it back onto the brake assembly.

● Place the shoe set against the backing plate and secure it. Press the brake shoe set with the new brake pads up against the backing plate, then reinstall the brake shoe clips you removed previously to hold the brake set in place.

● Connect the return springs. Reconnect the brake springs you disconnected in order to remove the old brakes. Use a pair of pliers to ensure you don’t pinch or injure yourself in the process. If the springs become too bent or damaged in the process, they will have to be replaced.

● Install the new drum. Remove the new drum from the packaging and compare it to the old drum to ensure they have the same diameter. Place the new drum over the brake shoe set and screw the axle nut on to hold it in place.

Brake shoes, also known as brake pads, are subject to wear and tear in the use of consumables. When worn to extreme position, it is necessary to replace, otherwise it will reduce the role of braking, and even form a safety incident.

The brake pad consists of two parts: one is a metal base plate and the other is a friction plate. When braking, the friction lining contacts the brake disc to create friction and act as a brake. Obviously, the friction lining will become thinner and thinner. The friction lining portion of the new brake pad is typically 10 mm, and when the remaining 5 mm is left, it is time to consider replacing the brake bushing. When it is only 2 mm remaining, it is very dangerous and the brake pads must be replaced immediately. Some brake pads hide the metal pin in the friction plate. When the friction lining wears to a certain extent, the metal needle will contact the brake disc, and the brake will make a sharp abnormal sound, reminding you to replace the brake lining.
● When replacing, you need to change the brake pads provided by the original spare parts. Only in this way can the braking effect between the brake pads and the brake discs be the best and the wear is minimal.
● When replacing the shoe, special tools must be used to push the brake cylinder back. Can not be pressed back with other crowbars, which will easily cause the brake caliper guide screws to bend and the brake pads to be stuck.
● After replacing the shoe, be sure to step on the brakes to eliminate the gap between the shoe and the brake disc.
● After the brake shoe is replaced, it is necessary to run for 200 km to achieve the best braking effect. The shoe that has just been changed must be driven with caution.