Only Motorcraft® pads and shoes are recommended by Ford Motor Company to ensure they provide the right balance and performance for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. Many competitive brands say they match O.E. with their use of shims, slots and chamfers to help reduce noise. But in reality, these competitive products are built according to the Friction Materials Standards Institute's (FMSI) version of the first O.E. pad and shoe specifications for each vehicle, which does not reflect the ongoing testing and improvements of Ford Motor Company. When comparing the accuracy of the FMSI specifications to Motorcraft® O.E. pads, it was clear a large percentage of O.E. part numbers had been updated since the FMSI printed their specifications book.