How to tell when you need new brakes?

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Stuart, Sep 2, 2004.

  1. Stuart

    Stuart Guest

    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
     
    Stuart, Sep 2, 2004
    #1
  2. Stuart

    James Sweet Guest

    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.
     
    James Sweet, Sep 2, 2004
    #2
  3. Stuart

    athol Guest

    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...
     
    athol, Sep 2, 2004
    #3
  4. Stuart

    RobertV Guest

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

    robert v70
     
    RobertV, Sep 2, 2004
    #4

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

    Stewart Hargrave


    For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name
     
    Stewart Hargrave, Sep 2, 2004
    #5

  6. This simply isn't so.
    --

    Stewart Hargrave


    For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name
     
    Stewart Hargrave, Sep 2, 2004
    #6
  7. Stuart

    AB Guest

    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.


     
    AB, Sep 2, 2004
    #7
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