What happens when brakes are worn out?

When brakes are worn out, they can’t stop the car as well as they used to.

Imagine you’re riding your bike down a big hill. Your feet are like brakes, when you push them against the ground, you slow down or stop. Now imagine your shoes are really worn out, they’re flat and thin. When you try to stop, it’s harder because your shoes don’t grip the ground as well anymore.

That’s what happens with a car's brakes. Over time, the parts that help the car stop get used up and become thinner. They can't grab the wheels as tightly, so the car takes longer to stop, or maybe doesn’t stop at all!

If you’ve ever tried to stop your bike with worn-out shoes, you know it’s like riding on a slide, you just keep going! The same thing happens in a car. When brakes are worn out, the driver has to press harder or longer on the brake pedal to get the car to slow down.

Sometimes, the car might even make a squeaky or grinding noise, it’s like your bike making a funny sound when you try to stop with old shoes!