These crescent-shaped steel components sit inside a brake drum and are forced outward by a wheel cylinder to slow the vehicle. Most vehicles use two shoes per wheel, designated as primary and secondary based on their position and friction material. While disc brakes have largely replaced them on front axles, they remain common on the rear axles of light trucks and economy cars due to their integration with parking brake mechanisms.
Grab a spring tool and back off the adjuster before you try to pull that rear brake shoe.
When replacing shoes, always do one side at a time so you can use the assembled side as a visual reference for the complex web of return springs.
Related terms
Brake assembly
A complete, pre-assembled unit containing the components needed to replace a vehicle's braking mechanism.
Disc brake
A braking mechanism that uses calipers to squeeze friction pads against a rotating rotor.
Caliper
The hydraulic clamp in a disc brake system that squeezes the brake pads against the rotor.
Brake fade
The loss of stopping power caused by excessive heat buildup in the braking system.