Abstract: A drum brake assembly (10) having first (12) and second (14) brake shoes retained on a backing plate (16). The first (12) and second (14) brake shoes have a first end (22,24) aligned on a hydraulic actuator assembly (26) and a second end (28,30) aligned on an anchor block (40). An adjustable strut mechanism (32) has an extendable shaft (33) with first end member (34) which engages the first brake shoe (12) and a second end member (36) which engages the second brake shoe (14). The first end member (34) is separated from the second end member (36) by a stem member (35). Stem member (35) has a threaded first end (39) which is mated with the second end member (36) and a smooth second end (31) which is retained in a bore of the first end member (34). The first (12) and second (14) brake shoes are urged toward the hydraulic actuator assembly (26) by a first resilient member (150) and toward the anchor block (40) by a second resilient member (48).