A method for manufacturing sensorized brake elements for vehicles, in particular brake pads, comprising the steps of: a) making integral directly with and onto a first surface of a metal support element of the braking element which is intended during use to be directed towards a vehicle element to be braked, such as a disc or drum, at least one piezoceramic sensor (15,15C) able to converting mechanical energy received in its polarization direction, when subjected to a mechanical force, into electrical energy for emitting an electrical signal, the sensor being selected from a group of piezoceramic sensors operational at working temperatures equal to or higher than 200°C and preferably free from polymeric active components; b) realizing an electrical circuit which is in contact with said first surface, to pick up said electric signal and possibly processing it and connecting said electrical circuit with a connector made integral with said metal support element, optionally by means of an electric cable terminated by said connector; c) realizing an electrically insulating layer, continuous or discontinuous, on the first surface so as to sandwich the at least said one piezoceramic sensor and said electrical circuit between the first surface and the electrically insulating layer, so as to embed them within said electrically insulating layer; c') realizing a dampening and thermally insulating layer directly onto said electrically insulating layer and on the first surface so that the at least one sensor (15,15C) is directly and completely embedded within the dampening and thermally insulating layer with the interposition of the electrically insulating layer; d) forming a block of friction material upon the dampening and thermally insulating layer, which block is held stiff by the metal support element; and e) applying, if necessary a predetermined potential difference to said at least one piezoceramic sensor after the step of forming the block of friction material and by means of said connector and electrical cable, so as to polarize or re-polarize the piezoceramic material of said piezoceramic sensor (15;15C). a) making integral directly with and onto a first surface of a metal support element of the braking element which is intended during use to be directed towards a vehicle element to be braked, such as a disc or drum, at least one piezoceramic sensor (15,15C) able to converting mechanical energy received in its polarization direction, when subjected to a mechanical force, into electrical energy for emitting an electrical signal, the sensor being selected from a group of piezoceramic sensors operational at working temperatures equal to or higher than 200°C and preferably free from polymeric active components; b) realizing an electrical circuit which is in contact with said first surface, to pick up said electric signal and possibly processing it and connecting said electrical circuit with a connector made integral with said metal support element, optionally by means of an electric cable terminated by said connector; c) realizing an electrically insulating layer, continuous or discontinuous, on the first surface so as to sandwich the at least said one piezoceramic sensor and said electrical circuit between the first surface and the electrically insulating layer, so as to embed them within said electrically insulating layer; c') realizing a dampening and thermally insulating layer directly onto said electrically insulating layer and on the first surface so that the at least one sensor (15,15C) is directly and completely embedded within the dampening and thermally insulating layer with the interposition of the electrically insulating layer; d) forming a block of friction material upon the dampening and thermally insulating layer, which block is held stiff by the metal support element; and e) applying, if necessary a predetermined potential difference to said at least one piezoceramic sensor after the step of forming the block of friction material and by means of said connector and electrical cable, so as to polarize or re-polarize the piezoceramic material of said piezoceramic sensor (15;15C).