PartBrake Fade Explained: Why It Happens and How to Prevent It
Author: VMAX Brakes Date Posted:17 August 2026
Brake fade is the loss of stopping power that happens when your brakes get too hot. You press the pedal, but the car does not slow down the way it should.
It is one of the more frightening things that can happen behind the wheel, and it catches out a lot of drivers who tow or push their car hard. The good news is that brake fade is preventable once you understand what is causing it. It helps to know how brake rotors work first, then here is how fade happens and how to stop it.
What causes brake fade?
There are two main causes, and they feel different from each other.
The first is the brake pad getting too hot and being pushed past what it was designed to handle. The pad simply stops gripping the way it should.
The second is the brake fluid boiling. When the fluid boils it creates air in the system, and air compresses. That is what makes the pedal sink toward the floor.
Both come back to the same root problem, which is heat. Too much heat, more than your current setup can cope with, and you get fade.
Warning signs to watch for
The two types of fade give you two different warnings.
Pad fade makes the pedal go hard. You push the pedal, it feels firm, but the car just will not slow down any more. The pad has run out of grip.
Fluid fade makes the pedal sink. You press the pedal and it drops toward the floor, and the car does not slow down at all.
If you feel either of these on a long descent or after repeated hard stops, back off and let the brakes cool before they get worse.
Who is most at risk?
Brake fade is not something most gentle daily drivers ever meet. The drivers most at risk are:
- Drivers who tow
- Drivers who drive spiritedly or do performance driving
- Anyone doing long mountain descents
- Track day and motorsport drivers
If that sounds like you, this is worth taking seriously, because the factory setup on most cars is built for average driving, not for what you are asking of it. Our guide to the best brake rotors and pads covers what we run on towing and performance cars.
How to prevent brake fade
You prevent fade by attacking both causes.
To stop the pedal sinking, run a high temperature brake fluid. We use Motul RBF600 as a minimum for street cars and track day drivers, and we spec up to Motul RBF700 for dedicated motorsport use.
To stop the pedal going hard, run a higher temperature rated brake pad. A pad built to take more heat will keep gripping in the conditions that would cook a standard pad. For performance pads, ranges like EBC are a good place to start, or ask us about our 600 degree pads.
On top of that, slotted discs help. They disperse heat and gases from between the pad and the disc, which improves stopping distance and keeps your braking consistent when it is working hard. A good slotted rotor and a high temperature pad together are the setup we recommend for anyone towing or driving hard. If you are weighing up disc types, our slotted vs dimpled vs drilled guide explains why slotted is the one we point people to for heat.
Frequently asked questions
Is brake fade the same as brake failure?
No. Brake fade is not the same as brake failure. Fade is fluid or pad related and is usually temporary once things cool down. Failure is a hardware problem with the braking system itself.
Do slotted rotors help with brake fade?
Yes, slotted discs do help with brake fade. They are just as important as running a high temperature pad. The slots help disperse heat and gases, which improves stopping distance and efficiency.
What brake fluid resists fade?
A high temperature fluid. We use Motul RBF600 at a minimum for street and track day cars, and spec up to Motul RBF700 for dedicated motorsport.
Why do my brakes fade when towing or going downhill?
Because both put extra load on the brakes. More load means more heat, and more heat is what causes fade. That is exactly why high temperature pads and fluids exist.
Build a braking setup that can take the heat
If you tow or drive hard, the right disc, pad and fluid make all the difference. Every VMAX setup is matched to your vehicle, backed by our 18 month or 30,000 km warranty, and delivered fast Australia wide. Start with our brake rotor range or talk to our team about a high temperature setup.
