No braking system is immune to failure.
Here are some common things that can affect brake shoe effectiveness.
1. Regular Wear And Tear
Regular driving will gradually thin the brake shoe friction material.
Eventually, the friction material will start to wear unevenly until the metal shoe backing, or the rivets that hold the friction material, contacts the brake drum.
This results in a horrible scraping noise every time you press the brakes. Your brake pedal will also likely travel farther down to the floor, and the brake system won’t respond as usual.
2. Locking-up From Weak Springs
Locking-up can happen if the return springs are weak, allowing the very top and bottom of the brake shoe to contact the brake drum. Typically, only the center of the brake shoe should touch the brake drum.
3. Brake Fluid Or Oil Contamination
Broken wheel brake cylinder seals can leak brake fluid onto the brake shoes. A leak in the rear axle seal or a wheel bearing failure can coat the drum brake shoes with gear oil or grease.
Contaminated brake shoes are pretty likely to grab and lock up while braking.
4. Damaged Brake Drum Or Failing, Broken Brake Parts
Damage to the brake drum or any loose, broken brake parts (like a spring or stud) in the brake drum can damage the brake shoes and compromise your braking performance. A frozen adjuster wheel can also reduce brake shoe contact with the brake drum.
5. Driving With The Parking Brake On
Driving with the parking brake applied can overheat and glaze the surface of a rear brake shoe, as the brake shoes are in contact with the brake drum. High temperatures generated by braking when hauling a heavy load or towing can glaze the rear brake shoes too — and this excess heat may increase brake fade.
Now that you know which factors can impact the brake shoe, how can you tell when there’s actually a problem?
8 Symptoms Of Worn Brake Shoes
The thing about brake shoes is that they’re inside the drum.
Unlike a disc brake pad, they’re not very visible parts, which can make it difficult to identify issues.
However, if there’s a problem with your brake shoes, there are still some obvious signs:
- You hear squealing or rubbing noises when you brake.
- Your car veers to one side during braking.
- There’s a noticeable reduction in braking power.
- Your parking brake isn’t as effective as usual.
- The brake pedal sinks to the floor.
- Your car shakes upon braking.
- The brake warning light is on.
- The drum brakes lock up.
If any of these signs pop up, it’s time for a visit to the mechanic, or better, get one to come to you so that you don’t have to drive with a faulty brake system.
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