Wear on brakes
Q: I recently took my 2014 Kia Soul in for its 7,500mile service. I have a little over 31,000 miles on it; we are seniors and don’t do a lot of driving. Our service adviser told us all was well except for the battery. It is three years old, and the climate here in Las Vegas doesn’t favor them with a long life. On looking over the multipoint inspection sheet at home, I noticed that for “front brakes remaining” it showed 5mm and 7mm on rear. Is this something to be concerned about regarding the difference? We have it serviced twice a year, so I’m hoping our service adviser would have told us if there was something amiss. — B.P., Las Vegas
A: As a rule of thumb, I suggest replacing the pads when there is 4-5 mm remaining. (No, I do not have metric thumbs.) Front brakes usually wear faster than rears, doing up to 80% of the work. The difference in thickness is normal.
Q: I enjoy reading your column but thought that it may be appropriate to comment on your response to the jake brake question. Your response said the only option for reducing the noise caused by jake brakes is to ban their use. My experience tells me that the majority of heavy-duty trucks built in the U.S. over the past few years have been built with some type of engine compression brake. But the majority of these trucks are not noisy when using the compression brake. The noisy trucks are those where the driver has removed the muffler. A better response would be that the best option to reduce the noise caused by compression brakes would be to require drivers to have a standard OEM muffler and exhaust system on their truck. — C.W., Minneapolis
A: I hear you. But I did not suggest banning jake brakes. I suggested restricting their use in residential areas. In fact, I would appreciate if drivers would avoid any engine braking in town. Speeds are low and service brakes should suffice.
Bob Weber is a writer and mechanic who became an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician in 1976. He maintains this status by seeking certification every five years. Weber’s work appears in professional trade magazines and other consumer publications. His writing also appears in automotive trade publications, Consumer Guide and Consumers Digest.