Abstract: In a brake band mounted on a transmission for a vehicle which is provided with a strap having opposite end portions and twined around the outer periphery of a drum, an apply side end portion provided on one end portion of the strap, and an anchor side end portion provided on the other end portion of the strap, at least one of the apply side and anchor side end portion of the brake band is supported or fixed so as to have a predetermined gap with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the drum during non-tightening of the brake band.

Abstract: A brake band suitable for use in a vehicle transmission is described. The brake band is composed of a band portion, such as a metal strap, and a brake lining bonded at an outer peripheral surface thereof on an inner peripheral surface of the band portion and has an apply side end and an anchor side end located opposite to each other relative to a circumferential length of the brake band. The brake lining is provided with oil-dependent, friction surface cooling grooves having bottom walls, respectively. Each cooling groove is provided with a discharging aperture extending through the bottom wall of the corresponding cooling groove to the outer peripheral surface of the brake lining. Adjacent to the anchor side end of the brake band, the brake lining is also provided with an oil film formation promoter, for example, in the form of one or more recesses not extending to the outer peripheral surface of the brake lining.