What Is A Brake Kit?

Brake shoe kit is a key component in the vehicle braking system, mainly used to generate friction to slow down or stop the vehicle.

It is generally composed of brake shoes, return springs, guide pins, friction pads, etc. The brake shoes are the core components, usually composed of metal backing plates and friction materials; the return spring is used to return the brake shoes to their original position after braking; the guide pins ensure that the brake shoes can move and position correctly during braking; the friction pads are the parts that directly contact the brake drum or brake disc to generate friction.

When the driver steps on the brake pedal, the hydraulic or pneumatic device in the brake system will transfer the force to the brake shoe kit. The brake shoes expand outward under the action of force, so that the friction pads are in close contact with the brake drum or brake disc, and the friction force is used to prevent the rotation of the wheels, thereby achieving the braking of the vehicle.

• Drum brake shoe kit: mainly used in drum brake system, the brake shoe is arc-shaped and installed inside the brake drum. When braking, the brake shoe opens outward and rubs against the inner wall of the brake drum to generate braking force. Drum brake shoe kits usually have the characteristics of large braking force and low cost, and are often used for rear wheel brakes of some trucks, some buses and some small cars.

• Disc brake shoe kits: used in disc brake systems, brake shoes are generally block-shaped and located on both sides of the brake disc. When braking, the brake caliper will press the brake shoe tightly against the brake disc to achieve braking through friction. Disc brake shoe kits have the advantages of good heat dissipation performance, fast braking response, and high braking stability. They are widely used in front wheel brakes of various types of vehicles. Many high-performance cars and some high-end cars use disc brakes on all four wheels.

• Friction material: It is the key part of the brake shoe, and its performance directly affects the braking effect. Common friction materials include asbestos-based, semi-metal-based, asbestos-free organic-based and ceramic-based. Asbestos-based materials have been gradually eliminated due to health risks; semi-metal-based materials have good wear resistance and braking force, but may produce large braking noise; non-asbestos organic-based materials have good environmental performance and low braking noise, but relatively weak wear resistance; ceramic-based materials have the advantages of good high-temperature stability, short braking distance, and low wear. They are a high-performance friction material and are often used in high-end models.

• Metal back plate: Generally made of high-quality steel plate or cast iron, it has high strength and rigidity, can withstand the huge pressure and impact force during braking, and ensure the stability and reliability of the brake shoe.

• Braking efficiency: It is a key indicator to measure the performance of the brake shoe kit, which refers to the braking force that the brake shoe can generate under certain conditions. The higher the braking efficiency, the shorter the braking distance of the vehicle and the better the braking effect.

• Braking stability: The brake shoe is required to maintain a stable braking force under different working conditions, such as different vehicle speeds, loads, road conditions, etc., to avoid braking deviation, shaking and other phenomena, and ensure the directional stability and driving comfort of the vehicle during braking.

• Wear resistance: directly related to the service life of the brake shoe. Brake shoes with good wear resistance can maintain good braking performance for a long time, reduce the frequency of replacement, and reduce the cost of use.

• Heat dissipation: During the braking process, the friction between the brake shoe and the brake drum or brake disc will generate a lot of heat. Good heat dissipation can dissipate heat in time to prevent the brake shoe from overheating and causing the braking performance to deteriorate, or even causing brake failure.

• Regular inspection: It is recommended to check the brake shoe kit every certain mileage (such as 5000-10000 kilometers) or every certain time (such as half a year to a year) to check the degree of wear of the brake shoe, whether the friction plate has cracks, falling off, etc., and whether the return spring, guide pin and other components are working properly.

• Cleaning and maintenance: Clean the brake shoe and the surface of the brake drum or brake disc regularly to remove impurities such as dust and oil to prevent these impurities from affecting the braking effect. When cleaning, you can use a special brake system cleaner and avoid using ordinary organic solvents to avoid damaging the brake parts.

• Timely replacement: When the friction pad of the brake shoe is worn to the specified limit thickness, the brake shoe kit must be replaced in time. Generally speaking, when the remaining thickness of the brake shoe is less than 2-3 mm, it should be replaced to ensure braking safety.