Brake Fade
Understanding brake fade and how to prevent it Look up ‘fade’ in the dictionary and it says ‘to gradually grow faint or disappear’ – not something you’d expect to hear in the same sentence as a safety critical component such as brakes. However, brake fade is an issue. And although more commonly associated with street or track racing, it can happen to regular cars too, especially when braking from higher speeds or under load. Because of this, it’s important to understand what causes it, and importantly, what you and your customers can do to prevent it. What is brake fade? Brake fade is a temporary and sudden reduction in braking power, caused by excessive heat in the system from braking repeatedly, under high loads or at high speeds. Unlike brake failure caused by a mechanical or hydraulic fault, the system is normally in good working order, and brake power will return, albeit not necessarily to the same level, once the issue has been addressed. What causes brake fade? In simple te...