What is brake fade and how to prevent it in your car

Wednesday 9th April 2025

Fade indicates that something gradually disappears or becomes faint. It’s not something you would think to associate with brakes. But it does happen. Although track, street, and race cars experience it more often, other vehicles are also susceptible, so it’s important that you know how to read the signs.

Find out about the types of brake fade, how to spot them, and what you can do about them.

What is brake fade?

Brake fade refers to the reduced effectiveness of your car’s brakes. It can be temporary and sudden, but the stopping power generally returns, although sometimes not to the same extent. It might also feel similar to a worn-out brake pad, but brake fade doesn’t mean your brake pads necessarily need to be replaced.

When you press down on your brake pedal, the callipers respond by forcing the brake pads against the rotors. The friction produced by this action will slow your vehicle down and bring it to a stop. If your vehicle experiences brake fade, your brakes will take longer to work meaning you’ll cover more ground before your vehicle stops.

Less effective braking actually increases the chances of damage to your brakes and can lead to costly repairs. If your car’s brakes don’t function properly, you’re more likely to be involved in an accident which could potentially cause injury to you, your passengers, and other drivers. At Formula One Autocentres, we offer a free brake check to diagnose any potential issues, like identifying signs of brake fade.

Why does it happen?

The callipers, pistons, pads, and rotors are all moving parts within the brake system – this movement creates kinetic energy that, in turn, produces heat. Friction caused when braking can also produce heat – a lot of it. Some brake pads are designed to handle up to 370ºC! Although your brakes don’t reach this temperature most of the time, as you only need to apply the brakes for a few seconds. This allows time for the brakes to cool down before you use them again.

However, when the heat builds up and doesn’t have time to disperse, brake fade occurs. Some scenarios include:

keeping your foot on the pedal in stop-and-go traffic

driving with an overloaded vehicle

braking down a long hill

driving aggressively

repeatedly braking hard over a short distance

There are a few other ways brake fade happens.

What are the types of brake fade?

Pad fade

Pad fade, also known as friction fade, is the most common type of brake fade. This is where the brake system can’t generate enough friction due to excessive heat. You may also see this referred to as ‘mechanical fade’, as this decline in braking force is caused by the mechanical components overheating.

Green fade

You might experience green fade if you haven’t bedded in your new brake pads properly. This is also referred to as ‘early life fade’ and is deemed the most dangerous type. New brake pads release gases when they hit higher temperatures due to the resin binder on their heat-resistant materials. Another loss of friction scenario. This can be avoided by bringing your brake pads up to high temperatures under controlled conditions – the process of bedding in your brakes.

Fluid fade

Brake fluid fade happens when the fluid in your brakes overheats, often during heavy or prolonged braking. Over time, your brake fluid absorbs moisture which lowers its boiling point and reduces the effectiveness of your brakes at higher temperatures. The fluid vaporises as it gets hotter, and as vapour is compressible, it makes your pedals feel spongy or soft.

What should you do if brake fade happens?

If your brakes feel soft, unresponsive, or you’ve noticed a significant reduction in braking power, here’s what you should do:

Stay calm, downshift and find a safe place: Sudden moves can make things worse. Keep a steady grip on the wheel, downshift your gears and coast to come to a gradual stop when it’s safe to do so.
Pump the brake pedal: If your brake pedal feels spongy, you can rapidly pump the pedal to help rebuild pressure and regain some braking force.
Use your emergency brake: If your main brakes aren’t working at all, apply the handbrake or parking brake gently and gradually. Do not jerk it up as this can lock your wheels and cause you to skid.
Give your brakes a break: Once you’ve stopped the car in a safe place, give your brakes time to cool down. As brake fade is a sign that something’s overheated or degraded, you should drive with caution.
Bleed your brakes: To resolve fluid fade, you should bleed brake fluid from the callipers until the fluid runs clear. Be sure to use a premium brake fluid with higher wet and dry boiling points to prevent early fluid fade.
Book your car in for a free brake check: Formula One Autocentres’ brake specialists will carry out a comprehensive inspection of your brake system and identify potential issues.