If your vehicle is showing car takes noticeably longer to stop than usual, here are the most likely causes and the parts you'll need to fix each one.
The friction material on your brake pads or shoes has worn down significantly, reducing their ability to generate stopping power. This is the most common and expected maintenance item for braking systems.
Tires with low tread depth cannot grip the road effectively, causing the ABS to engage early and extending your stopping distance. Even perfect brakes cannot stop a car quickly on bald tires.
If brake work was done recently and the system wasn't bled properly, trapped air will compress when you step on the pedal. This results in a spongy pedal feel and severely reduced stopping power.
Overheating from heavy braking or excessive wear can cause the brake rotors to become smooth and glazed. This prevents the brake pads from gripping them effectively.
Lack of lubrication causes the brake caliper slide pins to seize, preventing the caliper from squeezing the brake pads evenly against the rotor. This halves the braking force on the affected wheel.
Worn suspension allows the front of the car to dive heavily during braking. This unloads the rear tires, reducing their grip and noticeably increasing your overall stopping distance.
The brake booster uses engine vacuum to multiply your pedal force. If it fails or has a vacuum leak, the pedal will become extremely stiff and require massive leg effort to stop the car.
Internal seals in the master cylinder can fail, causing brake fluid to bypass internally instead of pushing to the wheels. The brake pedal will slowly sink to the floor while stopping, drastically reducing braking force.