I thought I'd save money and have my rear brake pads changed at Les Schwab instead of the dealership. I've heard people say that not using volvo pads will cause brake squeaks. Is this something I should really be concerned about?

 

It's a crap shoot with non OEM brake pads. Some are going to squeak and some aren't. Beveled edges will usually keep some of the squeaking down, but most people recommend going with the Volvo pads because it removes the question of is it going to squeak.

 

The Volvo pads also seem to grab better than a lot of the aftermarket pads. I tried aftermarket pads on my car and noticed the initial bite was not that great (especially with ceramic pads). OEM pads do dust a lot but they are very good pads.