The brake shoe assembly consists of two parts: the shoe base and the friction pads. The base is formed using precision casting of gray cast iron; some products also utilize stamping and welding processes to manufacture the shoe. Its crescent-shaped structure conforms to the curved surface of the brake drum's inner wall. The friction pads are fixed to the shoe surface via riveting or bonding, and the material includes a composite of reinforcing fibers and metal powder. With technological advancements, modern brake shoes also employ new friction materials such as ceramic matrix composites to improve thermal stability and wear resistance. The friction pad surface is often designed with heat dissipation grooves (slots) and chamfered cuts to optimize heat dissipation, expel friction dust, and improve initial contact performance with the brake drum.
The assembly incorporates a return spring to maintain the initial position of the shoe pads, and both ends of the shoe have locating pin holes for connection to the brake backing plate. Some models are equipped with an automatic adjustment device to compensate for travel clearance caused by friction pad wear.
