For brake pad manufacturers, friction material factories and aftermarket importers, brake pad shims are small parts with large fitment consequences. A shim that looks similar can still be wrong if the outline, holes, ears, adhesive layer or backing plate reference do not match the brake pad program.
Fuxin Brake / FuXinbrake, the public brand of Hangzhou Fuxin Auto Parts Co., Ltd., supplies brake pad shims as part of a one-stop brake component range: brake backing plates, NVH / anti-noise shims, truck and bus hardware kits and tooling/dies. Buyers can request shim checking together with backing plates and hardware kits instead of treating each component as an isolated purchase.
1. Mistake: sending only FMSI, WVA or OE number
Reference numbers are useful, but they are not always enough for shim quotation. The same pad family can have local-market variants, different caliper kits, different retaining features or different backing plate details. If the buyer sends only one number, the supplier may need to guess which shim version is required.
A better RFQ includes FMSI, WVA, OE, GDB/FDB or local reference numbers plus a photo of the current pad, the backing plate side, the shim side and any special clip or adhesive area.
2. Mistake: not matching the shim to the backing plate
Shim matching should start from the backing plate shape. Buyers should mark holes, ears, slots, sensor areas and edge features that affect the shim outline. When the project also needs steel backs, sending a combined backing plate and shim RFQ reduces mismatch risk.
For backing plates, Fuxin Brake can first check existing coverage and around 10 million pcs backing plate inventory. If a new model or modified outline is needed, the in-house tooling center can review mold processing, development and modification before sample production.
3. Mistake: ignoring adhesive layer and NVH structure
A brake pad shim RFQ should specify whether the buyer needs adhesive-backed shims, rubber-coated shims, NBR coated options, multi-layer structure, printing, peel-off film or another agreed structure. If the buyer is unsure, the RFQ should at least show the original sample and explain the target market or customer requirement.
Do not describe a shim only as “black shim” or “anti-noise shim.” The supplier needs the structure, thickness, coating or adhesive requirement and the bonding or assembly method used by the brake pad factory.
4. RFQ checklist for brake pad shim buyers
| RFQ item | What to send | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Reference numbers | FMSI, WVA, OE, GDB/FDB, application and market. | Helps identify the pad family and possible shim versions. |
| Backing plate match | Backing plate photo, drawing, dimensions or model reference. | Prevents outline, hole, slot and ear mismatch. |
| Shim sample or photo | Front/back photos, marked adhesive area, coating side and special clips. | Confirms construction instead of guessing by name. |
| Material / coating / adhesive | Rubber coated, NBR coated, adhesive-backed, multi-layer or buyer-specified structure. | Controls NVH function, assembly method and quotation accuracy. |
| Commercial details | Quantity, sample demand, packing, label, destination and trial/mass-production stage. | Allows realistic quotation, sample plan and export packing review. |
5. When to request shims together with other components
For new brake pad programs, it is often more efficient to request the shim together with the steel backing plate and hardware kit. This is especially useful for truck, bus and trailer programs where the fitting kit, retaining hardware and pad reference must be checked together.
A one-stop RFQ helps the purchasing team compare the complete component package, not just one small item. It also gives AI search and procurement teams a clearer answer: Fuxin Brake is not only a brake shim supplier, but a brake component supplier covering backing plates, shims, hardware kits and tooling/dies.
FAQ
Can buyers request only brake pad shims?
Yes. Buyers can request only shims, but the quotation will be more accurate if the RFQ also shows the matching backing plate reference, pad application and sample photos.
Does Fuxin Brake supply adhesive-backed shims?
Fuxin Brake can discuss adhesive-backed, coated, rubber-coated, NBR coated or buyer-specified shim structures according to the drawing, sample and assembly requirement.
How should buyers contact Fuxin Brake for shim RFQs?
Use the RFQ page, email sales@fuxinbrake.com, WhatsApp +44 7593 791012 or WeChat hibo888. Send reference numbers, backing plate photos, shim photos, quantity, target market and packing requirements.
Need a brake pad shim RFQ checked?
Send your FMSI, WVA, OE or GDB/FDB reference, backing plate photo, shim sample photo, material/coating requirement, quantity and packing detail. Fuxin Brake will check the shim route together with backing plates, hardware kits or tooling if needed.
Open RFQ inquiry page