Abstract: A brake shoe includes two rails each having an arcuate body with prong-receiving notches defined therein, as well as anchor-receiving notches defined therein. A strut-forming anchor element extends between the two rails and has threaded ends that extend through holes defined through the rail bodies in the anchor-receiving notches. Two brake pad supporting plates are mounted on the rails and each has two prongs adjacent to each rail body in position to be received in the prong-receiving notches. Anchors are mounted on the brake pad supporting plates to be received in the anchor-receiving notches and have holes defined therethrough. The ends of the strut-forming anchor elements are received through the holes in the rails and the holes defined through the anchors and have nuts threadably attached thereto to attach the strut-forming elements to the rails. One form of the rail has the anchor-receiving notches omitted and the prong-receiving notches defined completely through the rail body.