A heavy-duty vehicle brake assembly with a sealing interface includes a brake shoe, which includes a shoe table mounted on a web and a brake lining mounted on the shoe table. The shoe table is coated with a zinc-rich coating to form the sealing interface between the brake lining and the shoe table. The sealing interface resists the formation of corrosion cells on the brake shoe table, which in turn reduces the build-up of significant rust between the brake shoe table and the brake shoe lining, thereby preventing cracking and potential dislodging of the lining, while also facilitating replacement of linings when they eventually wear. A method of constructing a heavy-duty vehicle brake assembly with a sealing interface is also provided.