True, chainmail and brake systems both rely on perfect geometry. Every link or plate has to line up exactly, otherwise the whole structure loses its integrity. In a drum brake, if a plate is out of square, the friction surface becomes uneven and you get slipping or a sudden bite. Treat each link like a pad: if one is off, the whole thing breaks. And if you’re still thinking a drum brake is a good idea, you’re missing the cosmic joke it plays on you.