Abstract: The automatic adjustment of a drum brake is obtained by way of an adjusting lever (30) fitted to pivot on one (12) of the brake shoes when the wear of the friction linings (16) on the brake shoes (12) warrants it. This lever rests against a spacer (44) connecting the ends of the brake shoes between which the brake motor is located, such that the position of the lever (30) determines the distance apart in the rest position between these two ends when this motor is not actuated. Two surfaces opposite one another (48, 50) formed respectively on the spacer (44) and on the lever (30) define an operating clearance between them beyond which an adjustment is made when the brake is actuated. A lug (56) on a bimetal strip (52) takes up the space between the surface (48, 50) in order that an inadvertent adjustment does not occur due to an overheating of the brake drum when the temperature exceeds a certain threshold, thus increasing the operating clearance.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly includes a pair of brake shoes which are slidably mounted on a fixed support. An elastic retention member is mounted on each of the shoes before they are assembled onto the fixed support. Each of the retention members includes a locking portion which engages the web of the brake shoes, and a pair of arm portions which extend from the locking portions and which engage the web of the brake shoe in such a way as to releasably maintain the locking portion engaged with the web of the brake shoe. When the brake shoes are assembled on the torque member, a portion of the torque member is provided with a sloped edge that engages the locking portion to release the latter as the brake shoes are assembled onto the fixed support, so that the retaining member then exerts a biasing force between the torque member and the brake shoes.