What You Should Know About the Brake Drum

The brake drum is a key part of your car’s braking system. It works together with brake shoes to slow down and stop your vehicle.

It is a crucial safety component in the braking process because it converts kinetic energy into friction and heat energy. Over time, it will begin to wear out.
Drum Brakes

Most cars use a brake drum for rear wheels and emergency brakes. These are a much less expensive way to stop than disc brakes.

They are also more effective as parking brakes, which can save you money in the long run.

Unlike disc brakes, drum brakes don’t require hydraulic pressure to function. Instead, the brake fluid passes through a device called a wheel cylinder within the cast iron drum itself. The two pistons within the wheel cylinder force brake shoes towards the inside of the drum, creating enough friction to slow your car down.

Abrasion and Noise: When the brake shoes begin to wear down, they can produce a rusty or metallic scraping noise when they come into contact with the inside of the drum. This sound is often corrected by cleaning and adjusting the brakes.

Water Ingress: If water gets into the brake drum it will ebb between the brake shoe and the inside of the drum, which will have an adverse effect on how quickly your vehicle is able to stop. It will stay there until sufficient heat is generated to vapourise it, at which point braking performance will return to normal.