The friction and wear behavior of high performance polyimide (PI) and its composites reinforced with short cut fibers such as carbon fiber, glass fiber and quartz fiber was comparatively evaluated under dry sliding and water-lubricated condition, aiming at selecting matching materials for the pumps of pure water power transmission. The wear mechanisms of the composites under the two different sliding conditions were also comparatively discussed, based on scanning electron microscopic examination of the worn composite and steel counterpart surfaces. As the results, the PI composites reinforced with carbon fiber have the best mechanical and tribological properties compared with glass fiber and quartz fiber. PI composites sliding against stainless steel register lower friction coefficients and wear rates under water-lubricated condition than under dry sliding though the transfer of PI and its composites was considerably hindered in this case. PI and its composites are characterized by plastic deformation, micro cracking, and spalling under both dry-and water-lubricated sliding. Such plastic deformation, micro cracking, and spalling is significantly abated under water-lubricated condition. The glass and quart2 fibers were easily abraded and broken when sliding against steel in water environment, the broken fibers transferred to the mating metal surface and increase the surface roughness of mating stainless steel. This is probably the cause of the increased wear rate of glass fiber and quartz fiber PI composites in this case.