The reciprocating sliding friction and wear properties of two novel materials of Zr-2[Al(Si)](4)C-5 ceramic and Zr-2[Al(Si)](4)C-5-30 vol% SiC composite against Si3N4 ball were investigated. The sliding friction process of Zr-2[Al(Si)](4)C-5 against Si3N4 experiences two different stages under constant normal load and involves friction and wear mechanism transition. The static coefficient of friction increases with an increasing normal load. The friction force mainly comes from the interfacial shear between Si3N4 ball and Zr-2[Al(Si)](4)C-5, which changes with varied sliding distances and normal loads. In contrast, the friction process of the composite experiences one stage and the friction coefficient is not related to the test durations and normal loads. The friction force between Zr-2[Al(Si)](4)C-5-30 vol% SiC composite and Si3N4 is mainly from the plough between SiC particles and Si3N4 ball, which appears not to be influenced significantly by different normal load and sliding distance. In addition, microfracture induced mechanical wear is the rate-control wear mechanism in both Zr-2[Al(Si)](4)C-5 and Zr-2[Al(Si)](4)C-5-30 vol% SiC composite. Adding SiC improves the wear resistance of the single-phase material, because the second phase bears normal load and slows down material removal.