Brake pads - which are best?

Hi Folks

When I bought my '98 V70 from a small dealer they put all new brakes on the
front ... but the pads have been squeeling really bad ever since - as is, a
couple of months now! Always at low speed, e.g., 3 mph, or so. I assume
that the dealer (not a Volvo dealer - just a used car lot) put on the
CHEAPEST pads they could find.

Anyhow - I had a local garage attempt to lessen the noise by chamfering the
edges of the pads ... and it helped a bit, but it's still squeeling.

So - I figure I just need to get better quality brake pads.

What do you all recommend/prefer? Volvo OEM ... or other?

Thanks

Allan

 

Pads are only one part of the equation.

You can probably eliminate the squeeling by installing the shims that
are supposed to be behind the pads, with the lubricant that's supposed
to be applied to them. Cheap pads are usually just responsible for
more dust and a shorter life; without the shims and lube, OEM Volvo
pads can squeel just as bad.


Gary

 

I have always used Volvo pads and have not been disapointed.
I want the braking to be consistant. I don't want surprises
particularly when braking. Original pads can be had for a
more reasonalbe price that you local dealer if you search a
bit and have time for delivery.

Doing this change yourself?

Also read this
http://www.jimrothe.com/volvo/pbr_brake_pads.html

Some pad absorb water to the point of causing a real
time delay in speed reduction. I don't want any part
of that kind of thing myself. At 60MPH you travel
176 ft in 2 seconds, then you start to slow down
and travel another 120 to 150 ft to actually come to a stop.
I never expect to have that much time or distance in an
urgent braking situation.

 

I've got PBR pads (bitting against Zimmerman cross-drilled rotors) on my
Golf TDI, and the braking in general and in rain is better then our other
Golf (a 2.0L with stock VW parts) and the Volvo (a 960 with Volvo original
replacement parts - new front rotors and pads, original rear rotors and new
pads)... I found in the rain the Volvo stopped roughly the same, but the
VW's both had a delay with factory equipment - I would say it's my drilled
rotors allowing water to drain, but I can't complain about the pads, they
are terrific... tho they might not be the exact same ones in that writeup...
I'm sure PBR makes more then one formulation for its pads.

The PBR pads squealed at low speeds for the first 6 months of ownership
tho - my mechanic told me it was normal, to give them some more good firm
stops because they were still seating with the rotors (he did put on the
quieting grease)

For our Volvo the stock setup worked so well, we just stuck with stock
parts... Pads seem to get changed every 50-60K Kms (we do tow an unbraked
trailer, which I am sure causes some excessive wear) and the front rotors
lasted till 160K Kms, rears are still going strong. - And all original
calipers minus one rear caliper which was leaking.

 

more often times than not the squealing is from glazed rotors see if
yours are mirrorlike and if so have em turned a hair

 

Thanks very much for that and for the link too. VERY enlightening!

Indeed, I would prefer original Volvo parts ... if they come in a blue
VOLVO box, I'm happy.

Thing is - as I search the internet I keep finding people selling OEM
Volvo parts, but they also have other brand names on 'em. Only if they
show close-up pics of them with VOLVO stamped on them and/or show the
actual packaging will I trust that I'm getting true Volvo stuff.

I'm not even sure if my local (Montreal) VLVWORLD.com is selling
original Volvo parts (well - everything else appears to be, but the
brakes I'm not sure of).

Thanks again!

Allan



.... and newtovolvo spake, saying:

 

Hi Gary

Thanks for the response. Indeed, I too wonder if the shims/lubricant
were not actually overlooked when the pads were installed.

But alas - I don't have the shims myself. So, replacing the pads AND
getting them installed correctly is on my agenda.

Thanks again.

Allan



.... and Gary Heston spake, saying:

 

Hi Bob

I thought it might be the rotors being TOO glazed/smooth ... that's what
it sounds/feels like at the time. But, I took a look with the methanic
yesterday and they look normal. Not overly shiny and not at all
mirror-like, but instead perfect! Just as you'd expect rotors to look.
So, we decided not to turn them (and of course, they're only 2 months
old ... so that seemed like the right/logical conclusion).

Thanks again, Bob.

Allan


.... and bob spake, saying:

 

Next time don't let them forget the shims for the backs of the pads and a
little "Copper-Ease" on the sliding parts. I use Mintex pads and shoes
(handbrake).

 

[ ... ]

If you can look into the parts storage area at your local Volvo
dealer, you'll notice a lot of parts don't have Volvo markings
on them. Bosch will show up quite a bit, as will others.


Gary

 

I can recommend EBC Red Stuff pads as being very good... extremely fade
resistant and with tremendous bite when stopping at motorway speeds. Also
look at Pagid (they make the pads for Volvo apparently). I don't recomment
EBC 'spotties' discs as having tried them on two cars so far they have a
habit of causing massive amounts of judder....

 

Don't use cheap pads.. they'll squeak like hell. Use Mintex or Volvo pads. I
think I've heard that most cheap shops use PBR... they squeak.

 

I just installed a set of KVR carbon fibre pads on my 760. They are
semi-metallic, and they are terrific so far.

https://www.kvrperformance.com/index.html


cheers

RS

 

I need a brake job on my 965, and I was wondering the same thing.
What about ceramic brake pads: are they any good? Has anybody tried them?
geotek