The brake shoes on your automobile aren’t intended to help you run a faster mile, unlike your running shoes. They are functionally intended to assist in stopping the vehicle. Contrary to common assumption, brake shoes aren’t the same as brake pads and are in fact a crucial component of several braking systems. Read on to get an understanding of brake shoes, their function, and how they differ from brake pads.
WHAT EXACTLY ARE BRAKE SHOES?
While brake shoes and brake pads have comparable jobs to do, they are distinct from one another.
Disc brakes use friction components known as brake pads. The term “disc brake” refers to systems in which a caliper is used to apply pressure to brake pads, which are then pressed against a rotor disc. The friction that brings the vehicle to a halt is created by the pads clamping down on the rotor.
Drum brakes use brake shoes. A vehicle’s braking system includes a crescent-shaped component called brake shoes. They are housed inside of a braking drum. The brake pedal forces the brake shoes outward, slowing the wheel.
Brake shoes and drum brakes are components of an antiquated braking system that are seldom seen in current automobiles. As drum brakes are cheaper, certain car types incorporate rear drum brakes.
Drum brakes have exposed brake shoes.
When the rear drum is taken off for service, you can see the brake shoes.
SHOE BRAKES VS. PAD BRAKES
Most modern cars feature disc brakes with pads for stopping power. As was previously noted, some cars feature drum brakes in the back and disc brakes up front to assist cut down on manufacturing costs. Disc brakes are often retained at the front wheels of such vehicles, since they are better able to withstand greater braking forces. Brake shoe and pad systems have considerable variances.
WHERE THE BRAKE PRESSURE IS APPLIED
Force direction distinguishes brake shoes from brake pads. Different from brake pads, which move closer together to slow down a vehicle, brake shoes push outward to stop the vehicle. Brake pads on modern vehicles are mounted around a rotor rather than a drum. Calipers push brake pads together, forcing them to press on the rotor disc and slow or stop the vehicle.
COMPRESSIVE FORCE
Brake shoes and pads also vary in stopping force. Even though brake shoes normally contain bigger amounts of rough-surfaced material that contribute to the friction that is necessary to bring the vehicle to a stop, brake shoes typically do not have as much stopping force as the brake pads that are used in a disc braking system. When compared with drum brakes, disc brakes can often stop a vehicle considerably sooner and from shorter distances.
LIFE EXPECTANCY
Due to their position within the system, brake shoes may outlive brake pads. Because of their location at the vehicle’s rear, brake shoes may be able to withstand more stops before wearing out.
The brake drum is a housing for the brake shoes, protecting them from debris and corrosion. The brake shoes may wear out considerably more quickly if dirt or other debris were to become lodged in the brake drum, however. In contrast, brake pads are more likely to be impacted by dirt and debris due to their proximity to the road and the elements. However, because the brake pads scrub the rotors by rubbing off dirt and debris whenever the brakes are applied, this exposure may actually help the pads and rotors survive longer.
SERVICE
Brake shoes are protected from corrosion because to their enclosed design. In contrast to disc brakes, which use pads that can be easily removed and replaced, drum brakes need removal of the whole braking system before the brake shoes can be replaced. Brake pads are more easily accessible, but they are also more susceptible to corrosion because of their fragility.
Both brake shoes and brake pads will wear out over time. Brake shoes may be harder to reach and require more time to replace than brake pads, therefore replacing pads is usually the quicker and simpler option during a brake repair. As the brakes wear, the brake shoes may need extra adjustments so that they continue to make the correct contact with the drum. This is necessary to guarantee that the brakes continue to function properly.
When Should Brake Shoes Be Replaced?
Although brake shoes need maintenance less often than brake pads, they do not last forever. Brake shoes, like brake pads, need to be replaced regularly to prevent problems with the braking system or, at worse, complete brake failure. Disc brakes, drum brakes, or a combination of the two may all have their lifetime affected by factors including how often you brake, the quality of the roads you drive on, and the weather. Some brake shoes are intended to last several hundred kilometres.
