Drum brake device and method of assembly

A method of assembling a drum brake device including at least one brake shoe having a friction lining on a support structure with at least one window having a first window portion and a second window portion, the first window portion being wider than the second window portion, a shoe mount having a shoe mount portion sized to fit through the first window portion, the shoe mount portion being larger than the second window portion, a brake actuating cylinder, and a drum having a braking surface inside the drum, the method comprising:

• positioning a portion of the support structure near an opening of the brake actuating cylinder;
• manipulating the support structure so that the first window portion is received over of the shoe mount portion;
• moving the support structure relative to the shoe mount so that the portion of the support structure is received into the brake actuating cylinder and the support structure second window portion is engaged by the shoe mount portion in a manner that the shoe mount restricts movement of the brake shoe in two dimensions and allows selective movement in a third dimension;
• and
• securing the brake shoe in an installed position by placing the drum over the brake shoe with the braking surface facing the friction lining.