How to tell when you need new brakes?

[Stuart]

Hi -

I've got an '86 240dl... The brakes always squeak (they seem to on all
Volvo's I've seen from this era)... How would one tell when new brakes
are needed?

- Stu

 

[James Sweet]

Hi -

I've got an '86 240dl... The brakes always squeak (they seem to on all
Volvo's I've seen from this era)... How would one tell when new brakes
are needed?

- Stu

They'll make a nasty metallic screech, ideally though you'd pull a wheel off
and check the pad thickness.

Brakes squeel when they aren't done right, or when people use cheap metallic
pads. When they're worn out, use some decent pads like PBR, make sure you
install the shimms and use anti squeel compound. Properly done, 240 brakes
are silent.

 

[athol]

Brakes squeel when they aren't done right, or when people use cheap metallic
pads. When they're worn out, use some decent pads like PBR, make sure you
install the shimms and use anti squeel compound. Properly done, 240 brakes
are silent.

I must admit that I've never seen PBR pads. PBR is an Australian
manufacturer of calipers, master cylinders, etc., but I've never
seen it as a brand of pad.

Having had experience with a range of brands of brake pads, I've
moved to using EBC "greenstuff" pads. These are the only decent
pads I've found so far that meet the original friction factor
specification for Volvo 2-series. I don't intend to ever fit
Bendix pads to anything ever again - squeaking and making nasty
grinding noises appears to be normal for their pads these days,
and that applies to brand new pads on brand new discs in good
working order...

 

[RobertV]

Volvo's need original brakediscs and pads, otherwise they squeak. ! sorry

robert v70

 

[Stewart Hargrave]

They'll make a nasty metallic screech

At that point you need a new mechanic, too.
--

Stewart Hargrave


For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name

 

[Stewart Hargrave]

Volvo's need original brakediscs and pads, otherwise they squeak.

This simply isn't so.
--

Stewart Hargrave


For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name

 

[AB]

Well I have an S70 T5 with non original brake pads all round (APEC at the
rear, can't remember at the front) and they don't squeak squeal or play up
in any way... and as the APEC rears were only £13 a set (about $20) I'm not
about to complain!

All you need to do is make sure ou use a good anti squeal compond on the
back of the pad and fit new antisqueal shims.

A.

Volvo's need original brakediscs and pads, otherwise they squeak. ! sorry

robert v70