Abstract: Steel fiber reinforced ceramic-based friction material is prepared by nitrogen protection sintering method. The effects of steel fiber content on fade, recovery and wear performance of the ceramic-based friction material are studied and compared using XD-MSM constant speed friction tester. The worn surface morphology is observed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and wear mechanism is discussed. The results show that the interface between steel fiber and ceramic matrix is good, the wear resistance of the friction material with a steel fiber content of 24% is improved. The fade ratio is as low as 5.8% and the recovery ratio is 107.8%, showing the excellent performances of heat fading resistance and recovery of the friction material. SEM analysis shows that steel fiber content has impact on the main wear mechanism of ceramic-based friction material. The main wear mechsanisms of ceramic-based friction material with a low steel fiber content are brittle spalling and fatigue wear. By increasing steel fiber content, the main wear mechanism is abrasive wear. Further increasing steel fiber content, the wear mechanisms of ceramic-based friction material are brittle spalling and fatigue wear accompanying with adhesion wear.