
Drum brakes are typically found on the rear of most economy cars. They are economical, however don't offer the stopping power that disc brakes do.
They consist of a shoe, which carries the pad material and a drum, to which the shoes internally contact to slow the wheel.
The shoes are controlled by return springs and are activated by a wheel cylinder. The wheel cylinder is essentially a piston that pushes both shoes outward near the top of the assembly.
The parking brake cable also uses the drum brake components to activate. Instead of a wheel cylinder, a manual cable pulls on a secondary lever that will push out the shoes.
In this video, the rear drum brakes from a 2001 Toyota Corolla is taken apart to demonstrate how each component fits and function in the assembly.