How do I know if I need brake pads or brake shoes for my 99 Mercury Sable? It's for rear drum brakes.?

If it is drum brakes, it will be shoes. When they get worn down they will make squeeling or grinding noise. The grinding noise is very bad. That means the drums r being damaged. Drums r a lot more expensive than just shoes. l like to remove the rear wheels at least once a year then remove the drums & looks at the shoes. If they r down to about 1/4 to 3/16 of an inch it is time to replace them. Also look for wetness which will be caused by brake fluid. Lift the rubber gasket on end of wheel cylinder to see if any fluid is present there. If so replace the wheel cylinder. Brake fluid leaking onto the shoes will ruin them.

drum brakes take shoe's