[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Yes and especially on today’s FWD cars. Rear brakes are more mechanically efficient at slowing a vehicle down and subsequently engage (touch) first. Often pulling up to a stop sign at slow speeds, the front (disc) brakes may never engage.

In icy conditions, they can lock the rear wheels first and cause the back end to sway/slide following the slope of the road bed.

[Cboldt]

In the dynamics of braking, vehicle weight is transferred to the front, so the front tires have better traction. Having less traction, the rear tires slip more easily, and are more easily locked up.

Might be the same thing you are thinking of when you say the rear brakes are more efficient, but as far as the efficacy of braking a vehicle, the rear tires have less friction vs. the road than the fronts do.

[reed13k]

I just took my wife’s minivan in for bad breaks...back break lines were leaking and basically rusted through. Front brakes were seized. How she drove around on it as long as she did without saying anything is beyond me...I almost put it in the neighbors yard backing out last week when I discovered it. All new lines in the rear, + rotors, pads, calipers all around....$1800

But considering the car is 16 years old (paid off for 14)...I am not overly surprised it needs some work.