Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymers are increasingly used in tribological applications where fretting damage occurs. Fretting wear results from the repeated sticking and slipping of mutually loaded contacts. In this study, a custom built multi-axis tribometer is used to replicate fretting of filled and unfilled PEEK in a pin-on-flat configuration in both dry and wet conditions. The performance of the PEEK based polymers is shown to depend on the shear stresses generated when adhesive contacts are broken during slip. Unfilled PEEK experiences frictional heating that leads to softening of the wear surface. The softened material can be easily sheared from the bulk and leads to cratering and fracture of the samples. The extent of damage depended strongly on MW. The buildup of heat is prevented when water lubrication is used and wear is also reduced. Lubricating fillers such as PTFE and graphite lower the frictional forces and reduce the tractive shear stresses. Filled samples however were susceptible to softening from water that exacerbated fretting damage. The fretting performance appears strongly tied to the static friction response on the material. Static friction measurement along with FEA analysis was conducted to better understand the observed phenomena. A stop-go experiment was used to capture the friction response due to the shearing of adhesive contacts. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.