Brake Fade is caused by the gas-out of the brake pad fibers, acting as a lubricant on the rotor. This condition is referred to as?

• A. Squeal
• B. Brake Lag
• C. Overheating
• D. Brake Fade

Answer: (D)

Brake fade occurs when heat causes the brake pad materials to outgas, releasing gas that forms a thin film on the rotor. This gas acts like a lubricant between pad and rotor, reducing friction and causing braking power to drop even if you push the pedal the same amount. The term that describes this loss of braking effectiveness is brake fade, which matches the scenario described. Squeal is just noise from pad-rotor interaction, brake lag is a delayed response, and overheating is a cause or contributing factor but not the specific condition being named here. Once the brakes cool and the gas dissipates, braking returns to normal.