Ford Repair: F-350 brakes, auto repair business, brake fade

Question
I just installed new pads calipers and rotors on my 95' F-350, I bled the lines several times and still have brake fade, what is the problem and how do I fix it?

Answer
By brake fade do you mean the brake pedal goes down without any effect? Or do you mean the pedal goes to the floor? There are several causes, so first I need to understand what you mean by brake fade. In the auto repair business, brake fade usually means pushing the pedal has no effect on braking, as in a long downhill run with the brakes applied, as they heat up the brake effectiveness decreases. This can be caused by the material used for the brake surface, not breaking the pads in properly, the wrong finish on the rotors, grease or oil on the brake surface, air in the system.

Some people describe brake fade as the pedal going to the floor. This can be caused by a hyraulic leak, a bad master cylinder, and sometimes by a bad antilock brake valve on RABS equipped trucks.