For the ninth year in a row, Dynamic Friction Company (DFC) has been honored with the FMSI Award for New Assignments and Applications. This recognition reflects our continued commitment to precision, innovation, and leadership in braking technology.
Each year, the Friction Materials Standards Institute (FMSI) acknowledges the manufacturers who contribute the most to its standard part-numbering system. This system is critical to the industry, helping ensure consistent, accurate fitment across friction products. DFC continues to lead the field by consistently submitting the highest number of new, validated part numbers.
This achievement is no fluke. It takes time, investment, and a dedicated team of engineers and researchers to develop each number. From reverse engineering original equipment to validating application data, we put in the work to make sure every part meets or exceeds expectations.
For our customers, this means confidence. Accurate data means fewer fitment issues, reduced returns, and better results at the service bay. Whether you’re a technician, shop owner, or warehouse distributor, you can count on DFC to deliver the coverage, quality, and consistency you need.
Winning this award for nine consecutive years is something we’re proud of. It reinforces our mission and shows that our focus on quality and innovation continues to move the industry forward. Thank you to our team, our partners, and our customers who help make this possible every day.
When it comes to brake parts, compatibility and precise fitment are crucial. One small discrepancy in a brake pad or rotor can lead to performance issues, safety risks, and increased wear. That’s where FMSI standards come in. These standards ensure compatibility across all brake system components, emphasizing the importance of each part in maintaining safety and performance.
For auto shop workers, purchasing groups, and warehouse distributors, understanding FMSI (Friction Materials Standards Institute) codes ensures accurate part selection and optimal performance.
1. What Are FMSI Standards?
The Friction Materials Standards Institute (FMSI) was established to create a universal identification system for brake pads, brake shoes, and linings. This system assigns a unique alphanumeric code to each friction material shape and backing plate.
Why Is This Important?
✔ Ensures consistent sizing and shape across manufacturers ✔ Reduces misfit issues between pads and rotors ✔ Standardizes part identification for mechanics and distributors
Each FMSI number is tied to a specific vehicle application, making it easier to match the right brake pad or rotor with the correct braking system. FMSI standards also help in ensuring the correct rotor size for each vehicle application, which is crucial for optimal performance and safety.
2. Brake Component Types and FMSI Standards
The brake system is composed of various components, each playing a crucial role in ensuring safe and efficient braking. Understanding the different types of brake components and their corresponding FMSI (Friction Materials Standards Institute) standards is essential for selecting the right brake parts for your vehicle.
How FMSI Standards Improve Brake Pads Compatibility
Consistent Fitment Across Brands
Without a universal standard, brake pads from different manufacturers might have slight variations in shape, thickness, or mounting points, leading to fitment problems. Consistent fitment is crucial for all brake system components, including the brake pedal, to ensure effective and reliable braking.
FMSI prevents this by ensuring all manufacturers follow the same specifications, making it easier for mechanics and distributors to source and install the correct brake parts.
Eliminates Guesswork in Part Selection
For warehouse distributors and purchasing groups, FMSI numbers streamline inventory management by ensuring each brake part is assigned to the right vehicle applications. This provides a better idea of part compatibility, eliminating guesswork in the selection process.
✔ Reduces returns and exchanges due to incorrect fitment ✔ Helps identify the right parts quickly for large-scale purchasing ✔ Standardizes cross-referencing across multiple brands
FMSI and Brake Rotors Compatibility
While FMSI numbers primarily apply to friction materials, they also play a role in rotor compatibility.
🚗 Pad and rotor misalignment can cause uneven wear, excessive noise, and reduced braking efficiency. 🚗 Using FMSI-matched pads and rotors ensures proper friction contact and heat dissipation.
For example, DFC Premium Brake Rotors are designed using OEM specifications and FMSI-compliant pad shapes, ensuring proper contact and maximum stopping power. These rotors are also engineered to handle extreme heat, preventing warping and cracks during intense driving conditions.
4. The Role of FMSI in OE vs. Aftermarket Brake Parts
FMSI numbers bridge the gap between original equipment (OE) parts and aftermarket brake solutions.
🔧 OE manufacturers rely on FMSI standards to design factory-installed brake components. 🔧 Aftermarket brands, like DFC, use these same codes to create direct-fit replacement parts. Many aftermarket brake pads, including semi-metallic ones, are made from a blend of materials like steel, iron, and copper, offering superior performance in high temperatures. 🔧 This ensures aftermarket brake pads and rotors meet or exceed OEM fitment standards.
For mechanics, this means: No modifications, no guesswork—just perfectly matched brake parts every time.
6. FMSI Standards and Brake Safety
FMSI standards play a critical role in ensuring brake safety by providing a framework for the design, testing, and certification of brake components. By adhering to FMSI standards, brake manufacturers can ensure that their products meet the required safety and performance standards.
5. How to Use FMSI Standards When Selecting Brake Parts
When choosing brake pads or rotors, look for FMSI numbers on: ✅ Manufacturer catalogs✅ Brake pad backing plates✅ Retail and distributor websites
Selecting the right brake pads can also minimize brake dust, as different materials like semi-metallic and ceramic pads generate varying amounts of brake dust.
This eliminates confusion and ensures every brake component fits precisely with its intended application.
Final Thoughts
FMSI standards are the backbone of brake pad and rotor compatibility. By following these guidelines, mechanics, distributors, and purchasing groups can ensure optimal fitment, performance, and safety. Additionally, FMSI-compliant parts are engineered to provide quiet braking, minimizing noise and vibration for a smoother, more comfortable driving experience.
Looking for **FMSI-compliant brake pads and rotors?**DFC offers premium, direct-fit brake solutions that adhere to industry standards for quality, reliability, and performance.
Recognizing Excellence: What the FMSI Award Means for DFC and the Brake Industry
The FMSI Award is a distinguished honor in the automotive brake industry. It recognizes companies that excel in innovation, quality, and contributions to industry standards. For Dynamic Friction Company (DFC), this award is not only an honor but also a validation of their commitment to quality and leadership. Join us as we explore the Friction Materials Standards Institute(FMSI), the significance of its prestigious award, and the influential role DFC plays in shaping the industry.
What is FMSI?
The Friction Materials Standards Institute (FMSI) provides a standardized numbering system for friction materials. This system helps manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors match friction materials and brake parts accurately across brands. According to Jesus “Chuy” Villalobos, DFC’s Research and Development Manager, FMSI “serves as the standard bearer for the part numbering system that the entire industry uses.” Thus, this standardized approach simplifies product identification, ensuring compatibility and quality across products.
The Importance of the FMSI Award
The FMSI Award for New Assignments and Applications honors companies that make significant contributions to expanding the FMSI catalog. For companies like DFC, this award represents their dedication to advancing FMSI’s objectives. By introducing new friction materials and part numbers, DFC helps improve accuracy and efficiency across the industry. For automotive brake manufacturers, these contributions are essential to smooth product identification and distribution.
Since 2017, DFC has earned this award multiple times. Each year, DFC submits around 100 new part numbers, covering approximately 95% of all new entries to the FMSI system. This dedication solidifies DFC’s influence on industry standards and ensures compatibility across brake programs.
DFC’s Role in Setting Standards and Driving Innovation
DFC’s commitment to quality extends beyond individual products. Instead, it’s about advancing industry standards as a whole. Jesus “Chuy” Villalobos, who has worked with FMSI on behalf of DFC since 2015, takes great pride in this work. As his colleagues explain, “Once he’s done identifying everything, it comes directly after FMSI, and as a result, he supplies the most data and wins the award year after year.” For DFC, this dedication to cataloging new parts and identifying applications makes them a leader in the industry and highlights their focus on quality.
Additionally, DFC’s R&D team ensures all products meet or exceed OEM quality standards. This commitment shows in their high-quality brake pads and rotors, which are designed to suit various vehicle needs. Through these innovations, DFC has become a reliable choice for distributors and customers looking for premium brake products backed by high standards.
Why the FMSI Award Matters to DFC Customers
For DFC’s customers, the FMSI Award is more than a symbol of excellence—it’s a mark of trust. By choosing DFC brake products, customers know they are selecting parts from a brand committed to safety, quality, and innovation. Reflecting on his passion, Chuy shared, “Every time I open a box of pads or a rotor, it’s like opening a Christmas present.” This excitement, combined with DFC’s dedication to FMSI’s system, drives their delivery of award-winning quality.
Driving the Future of Braking Excellence with FMSI Leadership
Ultimately, DFC’s FMSI Award proves their leadership in the automotive brake industry. Their work in maintaining industry standards shines through in every product they manufacture. By supporting FMSI and introducing new part numbers each year, DFC reaffirms its position as a leader in braking. Through their dedication to compatibility, consistency, and performance, DFC shapes the industry’s future.
R1 Concepts and Dynamic Friction Company, leaders in the automotive braking industry, are excited to announce the acquisition of a new 300,000 square foot facility in Carson, California, as part of their ongoing expansion efforts. This new location marks a significant milestone in the companies’ 20th anniversary year, underscoring their commitment to massive growth and operational excellence.
The new building, which will be the fourth location for R1 Concepts and Dynamic Friction Company, represents a major step forward in enhancing efficiency and increasing inventory capacity. The goal is to combine operations from two existing locations into this expansive new facility, tripling the companies’ size and streamlining processes to better serve their growing customer base.
“We’re thrilled about this new chapter in our companies’ growth,” said Dan N., CEO of R1 Concepts and Dynamic Friction Company. “This facility is not only a testament to our past success but a crucial investment in our future. It will allow us to operate more efficiently, expand our inventory, and ultimately deliver even better service to our customers.”
In celebration of this milestone, R1 Concepts and Dynamic Friction Company is sharing drone footage, videos, and photos of the new facility, showcasing its impressive scale and potential. The companies plan to begin operations in the new space by the end of the year with a gradual roll-in to ensure a smooth transition.
As R1 Concepts and Dynamic Friction Company continue to grow, this expansion highlights their dedication to innovation and excellence, paving the way for continued success in the years to come.
Photos of the New Space
About Dynamic Friction Company (DFC)
Established in 2016, Dynamic Friction Company (DFC) has quickly risen to become a premier manufacturer and wholesaler of replacement automotive brake products. DFC is renowned for producing industry-leading components such as rotors, pads, drums, shoes, sensors, and calipers, all designed to deliver superior performance and reliability. DFC has been recognized with the prestigious FMSI Award, reflecting its commitment to excellence and innovation. Partnering with original equipment (OE) manufacturers from around the world—including top-tier suppliers in China, Korea, Japan, Mexico, and Canada—DFC supplies its award-winning products to warehouse distributors worldwide, cementing its reputation as a trusted name in the automotive braking industry.
Dynamic Friction Company has been awarded the Automotive Parts Association (APA) 2022 New Supplier Award.
To be considered for the Award, you must demonstrate consistently high order fill rates and supply timely, updated catalogs — including new numbers, field support, and ease of returns and credits. We are humbled and honored by the distinction, while mindful of the ever growing challenges. We look forward to facing these challenges and continuing to grow and serve our partners, including the APA.
About APA
Celebrating its 49th year of service in the automotive aftermarket industry, Automotive Parts Associates is one of the oldest program distribution groups in operation as a member-owned not-for-profit cooperative with approximately 60 independent Warehouse Distributor shareholders in North America.
Today we catch up with Ray Nowicky from Auto Works of Knoxville in Knoxville, TN.
Ray and his shop first tried DFC products in 2017 and he’s never looked back. Not only have he and his customers had great luck with the DFC 5000 ADVANCED Brake Pads, he’s also a big fan of DFC’s warranty.
The combination of a quality product, happy customers, and a reliable warranty goes a long way in running a successful shop. Ray concludes, “I can’t say enough good things about the product.”
Click the video above to watch Ray’s full testimonial and find out how the DFC 5000 ADVANCED Brake Padsback you up!
Today we catch up with Roger Gomez from County Brake & Alignment Plus Mufflers in Montclair, CA.
Dissatisfied with the pads he was using, Roger made the switch to DFC 5000 ADVANCED Brake Pads. “This is the best product for me,” said Roger, adding that “no one likes to do redo jobs.”
According to Roger, redo jobs make you lose time, profit, and even customers. “I need a product that backs me up,” he says.
Click the video above to watch Roger’s full testimonial and find out how the DFC 5000 ADVANCED Brake Pads back you up!
Join Co-Founder Dino Crescentini as he cruises and bruises the streets of Los Angeles in his 1973 Alfa Romeo. Where did Dino find this rare car? And why an Alfa Romeo?
Click the video below to find out
We recently caught up with Dino and asked him about his 1973 Alfa Romeo.
“The model is actually a 1300 GTA Junior. It is an aluminum-body version of the standard steel-body GTV. They only produced about 500 units of the GTA in order to meet homologation requirements for racing regulations.”
What fueled your passion for this type of car?
When I was a kid, my Dad had a trust-funder mechanic working for him that had a GTA that he raced that he would actually drive to work from time to time. My Dad usually worked late, so when I was at the shop after school, he would have Charlie take me home.
Charlie was in his 20’s and bit of a nut. When ever he had the GTA, he would take me home via the infamous Mulholland Drive, which was basically a 6 mile-long race track. Those rides home in the GTA were the most thrilling rides that anyone could ever experience, especially for a 10 year old kid. That is when I fell in love with the GTA.
It was also at this point of my life that I learned to keep my cool. You can imagine how I would react when my Dad asked if it was OK if Charlie could take me home! He had no idea, and it remained a secret for years.
Where did you find this rare car?
I found this particular car in Italy at a car show back in 2015, though I have had several of them in the past. I raced a GTA back in the early 1980’s.
What type of work have you done on it?
Being that the car was homologated for the 1300 class, the engine, though very high performance for a 1300cc engine, isn’t really that fast.
I built a vintage-specification 2000cc engine that was used in the Alfa race cars back in the early 70’s. It really hauls ass now!
Any fun facts about this car?
Being that these cars were homologated for racing, almost all of them were all hacked up and converted to race cars immediately upon delivery. What is really cool about this car is that it was never raced and kept in its road-going “stradale” (street) condition. As a result, it is very rare.
There are perhaps 50 or 60 of these cars in the world in this condition. The GTA is worth about $300K.
Today we catch up with the one and only, legendary warehouse distributor Larry Hoffberg.
Larry recently replaced the stock pads on his Audi with DFC 5000 EURO Ceramic Pads. We asked him about his experience and were happy to hear that his new EURO Ceramic Pads:
Were Noise-Free
Generated No Dust
Offered Excellent Pedal Feel
DFC 5000 EURO Designed just for European applications, DFC 5000 EURO Ceramic Brake Pads are formulated to provide optimal and reliable stopping performance, excellent fade resistance, low dust, and stable friction performance across a wide temperature range.
Today we catch up with Brake Specialist Eli from Brake World in Royal Palm Beach, FL.
A year and half ago, Eli found himself needing an upgrade in brake quality. After evaluating several important options, he switched to DFC. Since then, Brake World uses DFC Brake Parts exclusively, and they haven’t looked back.
Click the video below to watch his testimonial.
Eli understands that when it comes to brakes, you need top quality, dependable parts. Yes, performance and function are important, but it’s equally important to satisfy the customer and avoid those dreaded comebacks.
He adds, “We’ve been absolutely satisfied with the quality and the performance” of DFC Brakes. “Give them a chance,” Eli continues, “and you will not be disappointed.”
DFC’s mission is to deliver quality and innovation by manufacturing OE quality brake products for all foreign and domestic vehicles.
UNITED STATES
