Rear Drum Brake: Notes
- The drum brake is a leading-trailing type. When fluid pressure is applied to the wheel cylinder, the piston moves to expand the leading and trailing shoes while the lower shoe return spring joint acts as a pivot. Thus, the shoes come in contact with the inner surface of the drum, producing braking action.
- When brakes are applied during the forward movement, the tip of the brake leading shoe lining is pressed against the inner surface of the drum so as to oppose the drum direction. This increases the braking force. The trailing shoe, however, undergoes a force that pushes back so that braking force applied to the trailing shoe decreases.
The above shoe operation is reversed while the vehicle is backing up, with the braking force exerted on the trailing shoe greater than that on the leading shoe. It follows that there is no difference in braking force between the directions in which the vehicle moves.