What is Brake Fade & How to Prevent It

April 17, 2025

Have you ever pressed your brake pedal only to feel it go soft under your foot? This is brake fade, a scary situation where your brakes temporarily lose stopping power due to excessive heat. Brake fade happens when components of your braking system overheat, reducing friction and making it harder to slow or stop your vehicle.

At First Call Auto Care, we see this issue often when drivers come in worried about their brakes not performing as expected. Brake fade typically occurs during heavy or continuous braking situations like driving down steep hills or in stop-and-go traffic.

The good news is that brake fade is preventable with proper maintenance and driving techniques. If you're experiencing any changes in how your brakes respond, visit us at 29444 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI. We can inspect your braking system and help keep you safe on the road.

What Is Brake Fade

Brake fade is a temporary reduction in your vehicle's braking power that happens when brakes get too hot. We see this issue often at First Call Auto Care, especially during summer months in Royal Oak.

When you press your brake pedal, the brake pads create friction against the rotors to slow your vehicle. This friction generates heat. If too much heat builds up and can't dissipate quickly enough, your braking power decreases.

There are actually several types of brake fade:

Mechanical fade: Occurs when brake components expand from heat
Fluid fade: Happens when brake fluid boils, creating gas bubbles
Friction fade: Results when brake pad materials overheat

You might notice brake fade when:

Your brake pedal feels soft or spongy
You need to push the pedal harder than usual
Your stopping distance increases unexpectedly

Brake fade is most common during demanding driving conditions like:

Descending long, steep hills
Towing heavy loads
Repeated hard braking
Track driving or racing situations

We recommend regular brake inspections to prevent brake fade issues. Proper maintenance helps ensure your braking system can handle heat effectively and maintain stopping power when you need it most.

What Causes Brake Fade

Brake fade happens when your brakes lose stopping power after heavy use. At First Call Auto Care, we see this problem regularly in Royal Oak vehicles.

The main cause of brake fade is excessive heat in your braking system. When you press your brake pedal repeatedly or hold it down for long periods, friction between the brake pads and rotors creates high temperatures.

This heat can affect your braking system in several ways:

Pad Fade: When brake pads get too hot, the binding resins in them begin to "gas out," creating a layer between the pad and rotor that reduces friction
Rotor Overheating: Extreme heat can cause brake rotors to warp or develop hot spots
Boiling Brake Fluid: In severe cases, brake fluid can boil, creating gas bubbles that make your pedal feel spongy

Low-quality brake pads are more susceptible to fade. These pads often contain materials that can't handle high temperatures well.

Driving habits also contribute to brake fade. Riding your brakes downhill or aggressive driving puts extra strain on your braking system.

We often find that vehicles with worn brake components experience fade more quickly. Thin pads and scored rotors can't dissipate heat effectively.

Regular maintenance is key to preventing brake fade. We recommend checking your brake pads, rotors, and fluid during every service at our Royal Oak shop.

What Prevents Brake Fade

Preventing brake fade starts with understanding how to manage heat in your braking system. At First Call Auto Care in Royal Oak, we see many vehicles with brake issues that could have been prevented.

Regular brake fluid changes are crucial. Brake fluid absorbs water over time, which lowers its boiling point. We recommend changing your brake fluid every 2 years to maintain proper performance.

High-quality components make a significant difference:

Premium brake pads with better heat resistance
Drilled or slotted rotors for improved cooling
Performance-grade brake fluid with higher boiling points

Proper driving techniques help prevent overheating:

Avoid riding your brakes on long descents
Downshift to use engine braking when possible
Allow cooling periods between hard braking events

The cooling system for your brakes is mostly passive but very important. Good airflow around rotors helps dissipate heat quickly. Some performance vehicles have dedicated brake cooling ducts.

We often install heat shields that protect other components from brake heat and help maintain proper operating temperatures.

For vehicles used in demanding conditions, we might suggest upgrading to larger rotors or multi-piston calipers. These provide more surface area for heat dissipation.

Regular brake inspections let us catch potential issues before they lead to brake fade. We check for fluid leaks, pad wear, and rotor condition.

What To Do If You're Experiencing Brake Fade

If you notice your brakes aren't working as well as they should, you might be experiencing brake fade. Here's what to do when it happens.

First, stay calm. Panic can lead to poor decisions. Take a deep breath and focus on controlling your vehicle.

Reduce your speed gradually. Ease off the gas pedal rather than braking hard. This gives your brakes a chance to cool down.

Try pumping the brake pedal gently. This can help rebuild pressure in your brake system and may improve braking power temporarily.

Downshift to a lower gear if possible. Your engine can help slow the vehicle down without using the brakes. This works in both manual and automatic transmissions.

Increase following distance between you and other vehicles. This gives you more time to react and slow down safely.

Once you've safely stopped, let your brakes cool completely before continuing. This usually takes 15-20 minutes.

At First Call Auto Care in Royal Oak, we recommend bringing your vehicle in for inspection after experiencing brake fade. We can check for: