What would cause EXTREME brake fade under heavy braking in a 2001 GSR? Set-up includes Brembo blanks and Axxis Ult pads all around. After the brakes cooled down, everything was back to normal.
I'm thinking brake fluid... Does anyone have any other ideas?

 

A higher boiling point brake fluid would be my first suggestion as it is the cheapest and easiest to do.

With that setup, I don't see any reasons to get EXTREME brake fade, so you must be driving the hell out of your setup. It may be time for a further upgrade in your setup, or a downgrade in your driving style.

 

unless your auto-xing or tracking your car you have no reason to be experiencing EXTREME brake fade. obey the traffic laws and your brakes should be fine.

 

Actually this was at a touring event on a track. For a fee, they allow drivers to take their cars on the track. I was breaking no laws and there was a sanctioning body there to watch me. I've been here long enough to know what is and is not allowed on the board as well as how I should be driving on the street. h:

Schmoo,
Thanks for the confirmation on the brake fluid. It is due to be changed anyway, I just haven't gotten to it. Do you have any recommendations? I've heard good things about Valvoline Synpower and ATE Super Blue? The brakes appear to be back to normal now. The track day was a few weeks back, but I've been so busy at work, I havn't had time to post this question.
I've actually done some research on brake fluid and learned alot.
"SAE field tests have shown that the average one year old car has 2% moisture in the fluid."
This can drop the boiling point of your fluid by almost 100 degrees!

 

Are you sure the lines are fully bled?
Are the caliper seals intact?

The first thought that came to my mind is "air in the lines". h:

 

I will be making sure. I will be doing a full system flush to ensure that is not the case. I would think if it was air in the lines, it would do it all the time and the peddle would feel spongy. :dunno:
The caliper seals are intact. That was one of the things I checked since then. All the lines and hoses appear in very good condition and there are no leaks.
Since this has happened, braking performance has returned to normal. Of course this is only in everyday driving well within the design limits of the braking system on the car. I don't plan to take it to the track anymore this year so as long as it gets me from point A to point B safely, that's all that matters. :thumbup:

I just want to be ready for next year! :driving:

 

seems like alot of ITR guys run this stuff: motul brake fluid. With any luck I'll do it in a month or two.

 

should have stated that you were at a track h: people are usually misguided when they are told how to bleed their brakes. try this next time you do so:
DONT pump the brakes if you suspect that there is air in the lines.
crack the bleeder screw, push pedel to the floor, tighten screw.
DONT pump the brakes after you do this because if there is any air left in the lines it will be dispersed throughout the whole system and make more bubbles.
keep doing this proceedure till all the air is out of the lines.

 

Old Fluid is the biggest cause of brake fade. I changed my fluid after every 3 or 4 events if possiable and at the beggining of every track season. I have always use Valvolin Sythmpower and it ralrey fades when fresh, brake fluid loves to suck up moistuer epsically after it is heated a cooled a few times. So I always try to make sure I have as fresh as fluids as possiable