Manufacture of brake pads

A method of manufacturing a brake pad, the method comprising forming a back plate by a casting operation in a mould, the back plate being formed with at least one integral projection which overhangs an adjacent surface portion of the back plate, the mould being formed from frangible material and having a recess therein in the shape of the projection, the mould being formed by compressing particulate material against a surface from which there is a projection made of resilient material, the compression causing the resilient material to deform to the shape of the required projection of the back plate, solidifying said particulate material, and withdrawing said resilient material to form the recess, wherein the casting operation comprises casting metal in the mould including said recess, the metal in said recess forming said projection, and, after solidification of the metal, breaking the mould away from the projection, the method also comprising pressing a mixture containing friction material and curable material against the back plate including pressing said mixture around said projection so that it extends beneath said overhang, and curing said curable material to form a block of friction material adhered to the back plate.