Brake drum (braking drum) is a part of the braking system of a car. It is typically used for the rear wheels (and occasionally for the front wheels). It works on the principle of decelerating or stopping the car through friction. Failures of the brake drum may affect the braking performance of the car and lead to safety hazards.

Common failures of a brake drum:

Brake failure: After the brake pedal is pressed, the braking effect is obviously weak, and the car fails to slow down or stop normally.

Abnormal noise: A sharp or frictional sound can be heard during braking, which may result from wear of the metal substrate of the brake shoe or severe internal wear of the brake drum.

Vibration during braking: During braking, the steering wheel or the car body may vibrate, which may result from an unbalanced state or uneven wear of the brake drum.

Insufficient friction: The brake is slow or insensitive during operation, and greater force than usual is required to maneuver it. This may be due to surface wear or dirt accumulation on the brake shoe or brake drum.

Excessive braking temperature: After braking, the brake drum temperature gets too high, which may cause brake failure, burnt brake shoe, and odor.

Gradual failure of the braking function: The braking effect gradually weakens over time, possibly due to insufficient friction resulting from wear of the brake drum.

Stuck braking component: The internal components of the brake drum may be stuck due to rust or dirt, resulting in inflexible braking or incomplete release.