What is Brake Fade?

Brake fade often happens on track after periods or extended periods of heavy use and it is when your brakes cease to work.

There are two types of brake fade, these are pedal fade and pad fade.

Pedal Fade

This occurs as a result of heat in the brake system causing the brake fluid to boil in the callipers. On application of the brakes, you start to feel the brake pedal become spongy and the pedal travel increase. This is a particularly unpleasant experience, as normally when you apply the brakes you are expecting them to pull you up and they don’t. Often when you get Pedal fade you are heading towards something that you would rather not make contact with – another car, armco or another immovable object that would cause damage that would not polish out.

TiBrake – Titanium shims and braided brake lines will help resist Pedal Fade.

If you experience pedal fade, it is suggested that the brake fluid in the system is changed, as it will have boiled. After brake fluid has boiled once, its ability to resist boiling again will be greatly reduced.  When changing fluid we recommend that you use the highest-grade fluid possible, and that you flush out the old fluid properly.

Pad Fade

Pad fade is the result of friction being lost between pad and disc (rotor) surface due to the friction material exceeding its maximum operating temperature.  The pedal feel remains constant (hard) but regardless of how hard you push the brakes, the vehicle doesn’t slow.

If you get pad fade, a decision needs to be made regarding larger, better quality discs (rotors) or higher performance pads, or installing some brake ducting. The cheapest solution would be to first upgrade the pads to the highest specification available, before looking at other solutions. TiBrake shims will not solve Pad Fade.