A friction pad for a brake assembly comprises a backing plate having affixed thereto a pad of friction material comprising at least 50 % by weight of a ceramic material present in the form of relatively coarse particles of diameter 0.3 mm to 4 mm and a synthetic resin binder, together with a minor amount of a graphite lubricant and a minor amount of ceramic material in the form of relatively fine particles in the size range 1 to 30 microns.
