Meaning & use
brake lining
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
A strip of friction material attached to a brake shoe, which presses against a drum to slow or stop a vehicle.
Grammar: Countable; often plural: replace the brake linings.
Patterns
- brake lining for something
- wear out the brake linings
The mechanic said the brake linings were worn and needed replacing.
Brake linings are made from materials that can withstand high heat.
You should check the brake linings every 20,000 miles.
Word forms
| plural | brake linings |
|---|
Common combinations
- worn brake linings
- Worn brake linings can make a squealing noise.
- replace the brake linings
- It's time to replace the brake linings on the rear wheels.
- brake lining material
- The brake lining material must resist heat and friction.
- front brake linings
- The front brake linings wear out faster than the rear ones.
Synonyms and how they differ
- brake pad
- Brake pads are used in disc brakes, while brake linings are used in drum brakes; they serve similar purposes but are different parts.
Word family
Commonly confused: brake lining or brake pad?
brake lining vs brake pad
Brake pads are flat and used with a disc; brake linings are curved and used inside a drum.
Practice
Where would you typically find a brake lining?
Choose one answer.
Brake linings are part of drum brakes, where they press against the inside of a drum. Disc brakes use brake pads instead, so option 1 is wrong. Options 2 and 3 are unrelated systems.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “brake lining”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.