The main differences between brake linings and brake shoes are as follows:
► Definition and location
Brake Linings:
Brake lining is the friction material attached to the surface of brake shoes, brake blocks and other parts. It is the part that produces friction in direct contact with the brake disc or drum, and its function is to reduce the speed of the wheel by friction, so that the vehicle slows down or stops.
Brake Shoes:
Brake shoes are mainly used in drum brakes. It is a curved metal part with brake linings usually glued or riveted to the surface of the brake shoe. The brake shoe will open up inside the drum during braking, causing the brake lining to come into contact with the inner wall of the drum, generating friction and thus stopping the wheel.
► Shape and structure
Brake Linings:
There are a variety of shapes, the common ones being flat. In disc brakes, their shape is matched to that of the brake disc to ensure even coverage of the disc's friction surface. Their thickness is relatively thin, generally between a few millimetres and a dozen millimetres.
Brake Shoes:
The brake shoe is generally curved in shape to fit the inner circle of the brake drum. It has a mounting pivot point around which it spreads outward during braking. A brake shoe is usually a one-piece metal part, larger in size than a brake lining because it has to cover a larger area of the brake drum. The structure consists of a metal shoe body and a brake lining attached to it, which combine to form a complete braking component.
► Mode of operation
Brake Linings:
In disc brakes, when the driver depresses the brake pedal, the hydraulic system pushes a piston in the brake caliper, causing the brake lining to clamp the disc. This clamping force generates friction, the magnitude of which depends on the coefficient of friction between the brake lining and the disc, the clamping force, and other factors. As the brake disc is exposed to the air, the heat dissipation conditions are better, and the brake lining can dissipate heat more quickly when working, reducing the heat recession phenomenon.
Brake Shoes:
In drum brakes, the brake shoes are pushed by the brake parting pump to expand the shoes outward, allowing the brake lining to come into contact with the brake drum. The brake drum is a closed structure, and the heat generated in the braking process is not easy to be dispersed, which is prone to thermal degradation and affects the braking performance. Moreover, the adjustment of the gap between the brake shoes and the brake drum is relatively complicated and requires regular inspection and adjustment to ensure braking effect.
► Application Scenarios
Brake Linings:
Due to the advantages of disc brakes such as good heat dissipation performance and fast braking response, brake linings are widely used in the front wheel brakes of modern automobiles. At the same time, they are also used in the disc brakes of motorbikes and the disc brakes of some industrial equipment.
Brake Shoes:
Drum brakes are simple in structure and low in cost, brake shoes are still used in the rear wheel brakes of some small cars, the brakes of large lorries and buses, and the brakes of some agricultural vehicles.
