I read once that drum brake shoes get old and hardened over time and glaze over. For this reason, they may need replacement before they're worn down in order to ensure they're still effective.
True or not?
I ask because our '99 Tercel appears to still have its original shoes. Wife does not drive much, and there's about 1/8" of lining left on them, which is pretty much what there was when we bought the car 1½ years ago. I'm debating replacement or leaving it another year.