Friction properties of automotive brake pads containing different types of abrasivess were investigated. Five different abrasives, including o-quartz, magnesia, magnetite, alumina, zircon, were employed in this investigation and size effects of the abrasives on friction characteristics were also studied using 1, 50, 140$\mu\textrm{m}$ size zircon. Experimental results showed that the hardness and size of these abrasive particles were strongly related to friction behaviors and wear mechanisms. Harder and smaller abrasives showed higher friction coefficient and more wear. The surfaces of friction materials with different sizes of abrasives showed that two different modes of abrasion (two-body and three-body abrasion) appeared during sliding. Considering the above results, abrasive materials were thought to destroy transfer film and the extent of the destruction depends on the types and sizes of abrasive particles. A mechanism of the wear mode transition (two-body to three body abrasive motion) was suggested considering the binding energy and friction energy in terms of abrasive particle size.