Brake Shoes Replacement
What is a brake shoe?
Many older vehicles use drum brakes on all four wheels, or just the rear wheels. The drum brake uses brake shoes instead of brake pads to slow or stop the vehicle, and have been replaced on most modern passenger vehicles by the disc brake system.
How does the brake shoe work?
A brake drum is shaped like a bowl, and brake shoes are installed inside the drum. When the brake pedal is pressed, the wheel cylinder presses the brake shoes outward, against the sides of the drum to create braking force. The brake drum is indirectly attached to the wheel, so when the brake shoes are forced against it, the wheel must stop as well.
Brake shoes can be damaged by defective brake drums and/or leaking wheel cylinders.
What are the symptoms related to a bad brake shoe?
Customers with drum brake systems often specify they have lost braking power, or that the vehicle's brakes are making noise. This is because brake drums do not dissipate heat very well, so the heat from hard braking will cause stress fractures. These fractures make can make noise on the brake shoes as the drum revolves around the shoes. Lastly, the brake shoes may not be problematic, but may cause a grinding noise while stopping. This would indicate the shoes have no braking material left, and the brake shoes must be changed before the vehicle can be safely driven.
Learn more about brake shoe symptoms
Can I drive with a brake shoe problem?
It is not safe to operate any vehicle with any braking problem. If there is any sign that the brakes are not performing as originally intended, the vehicle should immediately be placed out of service, and repaired. If the brakes are being replaced as part of routine maintenance, with no symptoms noticed, the vehicle can be safely driven to a repair shop.