What does drum brake refer to in cars?
2 Answers
Drum brake is a braking device that uses stationary brake shoes inside the brake drum to rub against the rotating brake drum attached to the wheel, thereby generating friction to reduce the wheel's rotation speed. Here is more information about drum brakes: 1. When the brake pedal is pressed, the force from the foot causes the piston in the master cylinder to push the brake fluid forward, creating pressure in the hydraulic lines. This pressure is transmitted through the brake fluid to the wheel cylinder pistons at each wheel. The wheel cylinder pistons then push the brake shoes outward, causing them to rub against the inner surface of the brake drum and generate sufficient friction to reduce the wheel's rotation speed, achieving the braking effect. 2. Drum braking works by using the wheel cylinder pistons to push the brake shoes outward, pressing them against the friction surface to generate braking force. One advantage is that the brake shoes can automatically lock tighter as the wheel rotates. It doesn't require a large braking force to achieve smooth braking, as it utilizes the rotational energy of the wheel itself.
Drum brakes are a type of automotive braking system. Having driven for so many years, I often encounter vehicles with drum brakes on the rear wheels. Its structure resembles a circular drum shell enclosing several brake shoes. When you press the brake pedal, the hydraulic system forces the brake shoes to press outward against the inner wall of the drum shell, slowing the wheels through friction. Compared to disc brakes, drum brakes have poorer heat dissipation and are prone to overheating after prolonged braking, which can reduce braking effectiveness. Therefore, they are commonly used in low-speed applications or on rear wheels. I recommend that new drivers who operate older vehicles with drum brakes regularly check the wear of the brake shoes and the hydraulic fluid to avoid sudden loss of braking efficiency at high speeds. I remember one time when the drum brakes on my old car kept making noise, and upon inspection, I found that the brake shoes were completely worn out—replacing them solved the issue. Overall, drum brakes are simple and inexpensive to maintain, making them suitable for economy models.
