A conditioning insert of a friction device includes a body having a conditioning surface configured to engage a wheel, opposite first and second sides intersecting the conditioning surface, and opposite third and fourth sides intersecting the conditioning surface. Each of the first and second sides extend from the third side to the fourth side. The body includes one or more of (a) a recess extending into one or more of the first side, the second side, the third side, or the fourth side and is configured to receive friction material of the friction device and/or (b) a protrusion extending out of the first side, the second side, the third side, or the fourth side and into the friction material of the friction device.