Brake Shoes are a must have item for anyone who owns a car. They are an essential component to the system of the brake system, and are made up of two pieces: The Brake shoe itself is a small metal fitting, approximately one inch in diameter, that fits into and holds the brake caliper. This is the hard shell of the shoe. The other piece of the shoe is a flexible rubber liner that acts as the brake pads. Together, the shoe and liner make up the brake system.
A brake shoe is often seen as a solid piece of metal that looks like the casing of a gun or some other metal related object, which protects the caliper from the friction caused by the brake pads. The function of the brake shoes is to absorb the force of the braking system, and prevent it from damaging the expensive internal components of the vehicle. A more elaborate device that is placed on a inline track to slow a train or bicycle is known as brake shoe.
It is important to note that different types of vehicle will require different types of brake shoes. Train brake shoes are made to be very soft, to absorb and channel away the excessive friction caused by the fast moving metal binding wheels of the train. Bicycle brake shoes are usually made to be firmer, and designed to channel away any excessive friction caused by the chains and sprockets of the bicycle.
Brake pads, on the other hand, are rubber compounds that absorb the force of the brake system. The pads are usually mounted directly to the wheel axle, and may be included in the wheel itself. Depending on the vehicle, the pads may be mounted to the brakes themselves, or they may be mountable to the wheels. There are also special pads that are designed to work on certain vehicle models, such as automatic cars.
These shoes are also an essential part of the drum brake system. The rubber pads mounted to the drums do an important role in absorbing the force of the brakes, which is very necessary while driving. If you have your car fitted with drum brake system, and are using standard brakes, the shoes should also be replaced by the manufacturer. However, if you are using one of the many aftermarket products, you need to make sure you buy the right ones.
Today's vehicles have various options when it comes to the type of brake shoes to be used. Cars and trucks can now be fitted with either solid rubber or air-filled tires. However, with the increased expense of air-filled tires nowadays, most vehicles still use solid rubber for optimum braking performance. Even though the prices of tires and brakes have decreased in recent years, it is still a good idea to always make sure you have the correct equipment installed, to ensure safety at all times.