I'm currently learning about automotive engineering by studying the inner workings of the Toyota Yaris. Through this project, I'm creating interactive resources to help others understand how cars function — from core components to complete systems. Click on a hotspot on the model below to jump to that section.
Drum brakes
Many of us have no idea what our car's brakes look like — let alone how they work — yet they save our lives every single day. One common type is the drum brake, which relies on the physics principle of friction to slow the car down.
Drum brakes work through a hydraulic system. When you press the brake pedal, it applies pressure to the brake fluid, which moves through the brake lines into a wheel cylinder inside the drum. This pressure forces the brake shoes outward, pressing them against the inside of a rotating drum attached to the wheel. The brake shoes are lined with a high-friction material that resists the motion of the drum — converting kinetic energy into heat and bringing the wheel to a stop.
While less common on modern front wheels (which use disc brakes), drum brakes are still widely used on rear wheels and parking brakes due to their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and self-energizing design.
If you'd like to learn more, read the full write-up on disc and drum brakes →
My drum brake
