what are brake shoes

Brake shoes are a component of a drum brake system used in automobiles, trains, and bicycles. They are crescent-shaped components with a rough friction material on one side, and they sit inside of a brake drum. When the brake pedal is pressed, the brake shoes are forced outward, pushing against the inside of the brake drum and slowing down the wheel. The brake shoe carries the brake block, which was originally made of wood, then cast iron, and nowadays is replaced by high friction composite material. As well as providing braking effort, the brake shoe also "scrubs" the wheel and keeps it clean, which causes wear and tear on the wheel tread and often causes brake squeal. Brake shoes differ from brake pads in their direction of force. Brake shoes stop the car by pushing outward, while brake pads stop it by moving closer together. Brake pads are positioned around a disc called a rotor and are squeezed together by a caliper to press against the rotor disc, which slows down the wheels and stops the car.