A method for manufacturing an asbestos-free friction material comprising as component materials inorganic and/or organic and/or metallic fibers, at least one organic binder, at least one friction modifier or lubricant and at least a filler or abrasive, comprising the steps of: - mixing with each other the raw component materials of the friction material in order to obtain a raw mixture; - molding under pressure the raw mixture in order to obtain a block or layer of friction material; characterized in that the mixing step comprises: a) - a first blending step carried out by feeding at least part of the organic binder and at least part of at least one other component material of the friction material in a first mixer provided with at least two hot rotating rollers and open to atmospheric pressure in order to have said at least part of the organic binder and said at least part of at least one other component material of the friction material passing through the rollers in a gap delimited therebetween at a temperature which is lower than the polymerization temperature of the organic binder but higher than, or equal to, the softening temperature of the organic binder, in order to obtain at atmospheric pressure and after the rollers a semifinished solid product in the shape of chips or ribbon or sheet; b) - a grinding step of the semifinished solid product, in order to reduce it to a powder; c) - a second blending step of the raw component materials of the friction material which is performed after the first blending step and the grinding step, wherein other raw component materials of the friction material and the powder obtained by the grinding of the semifinished solid product are introduced within a second mixer, for example of the Henschel, Loedige or Eirich type. - mixing with each other the raw component materials of the friction material in order to obtain a raw mixture; - molding under pressure the raw mixture in order to obtain a block or layer of friction material; a) - a first blending step carried out by feeding at least part of the organic binder and at least part of at least one other component material of the friction material in a first mixer provided with at least two hot rotating rollers and open to atmospheric pressure in order to have said at least part of the organic binder and said at least part of at least one other component material of the friction material passing through the rollers in a gap delimited therebetween at a temperature which is lower than the polymerization temperature of the organic binder but higher than, or equal to, the softening temperature of the organic binder, in order to obtain at atmospheric pressure and after the rollers a semifinished solid product in the shape of chips or ribbon or sheet; b) - a grinding step of the semifinished solid product, in order to reduce it to a powder; c) - a second blending step of the raw component materials of the friction material which is performed after the first blending step and the grinding step, wherein other raw component materials of the friction material and the powder obtained by the grinding of the semifinished solid product are introduced within a second mixer, for example of the Henschel, Loedige or Eirich type. <EOS>