WHAT ARE BRAKE SHOES?
Brake shoes is actually designed to help you stop your car and bike!
In fact, brake shoes are an essential element of certain braking systems, and, contrary to popular belief,
Brake shoes are part of a drum brake system. Brake shoes are crescent-shaped components with a rough friction material on one side. 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.
DIRECTION OF BRAKE FORCE
Brake shoes stop the car by pushing outward, while brake pads stop it by moving closer together. Instead of sitting inside a brake drum, brake pads are positioned around a disc called a rotor. A caliper squeezes the brake pads together so they press against the rotor disc, which slows down the wheels and stops the car
LIFE EXPECTANCY
Brake shoe may outlast brake pad due to their location within the system Since they are positioned in the rear of the vehicle, brake shoes may last longer as they aren’t taking as much of the stopping force.
brake shoes are housed inside the brake drum which can help protect them from rust, dirt, and corrosion. However, if dirt or debris does get into the brake drum, it can become trapped in the drum which may cause the brake shoes to wear down much faster.
SERVICE
Since brake shoes are enclosed, they can better resist corrosion. However, drum brakes are a more complex system than disc brakes, making brake shoes more difficult and time consuming to replace than brake pads. While the vulnerability of brake pads leaves it potentially exposed to corrosion, it also makes them more accessible.
Both brake pads and brake shoes are not immune to wear. Typically, brake pads are easier and faster to access during a brake repair, while accessing brake shoes to perform brake repair services can take much longer. Brake shoes may also require additional adjustments as the brakes wear to ensure the brake shoes are still making proper contact with the drum.
WHEN TO REPLACE BRAKE SHOES
While brake shoes may not require service as frequently as brake pads, they won’t last forever. Just like brake pads, brake shoes must be changed routinely in order to avoid issues with your braking system or, worse, brake failure. Some brake shoes are designed to last several thousand miles, but driving habits, road conditions, and weather can all affect the lifespan of your brake components — regardless of whether you have disc brakes, drum brakes, or both
Facts about the Brake System in Two-Wheelers
- Most of the two-wheelers have disc and drum brakes in them. There are subtle differences between the disc and the drum brake system in the bikes. In the disc brake system, we have a rotor positioned above the wheel and caliper structure. There are brake pads present on both the sides of the rotor and calipers. There is separate oil storage having a pump connected that forms the entire brake lever system. When there is a pulling force on the brake lever, the oil from the reservoir moves towards the calipers and moves it. A pressure often occurs on the brake pads that ultimately produce the necessary friction to stop the vehicle.