The squeal of drum brakes was investigated numerically and experimentally. Modal testings were performed for shoes, drums, backing plates and their assemblies. In order to predict the squeal phenomena, stability analysis was performed based on a simplified self-excited vibration model. Based on modal testings, the dynamic properties of the brake elements and the parameters used in this analysis were determined. The geometries of shoes and drums were also considered. The result shows that the modification methods of the shoe and the drum design are feasible for noise reduction.