Abstract: A drum brake assembly has brake shoes 2 and 3 within a rotatable drum 1. The shoes 2 and 3 are displaceable to effect braking by an hydraulic ram 7 and free ends 9 of the shoes react against an abutment 10. This reaction is effected through a layer of viscoelastic damping material and metal plate laminate 110 which may be carried by either the brake shoes or the abutment 10. The viscoelastic layer may be bonded between steel plates and secured by a spring clip to either the brake shoe or the abutment 10. Alternatively the viscoelastic layer may be bonded to the abutment 10. The laminate 110 can be accommodated within a recess in the abutment 10. The provision of the viscoelastic layers through which the brake shoes react on the abutment 10 alleviates the development of noise or squeal during use of the brake assembly.