First, don't laugh or scold. I took my 1998 V70 to All Tune and Lube for oil change. As you know, they always want to fix lots of things. They said I needed a front brake job for a cost of NINETEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS. They said they used "genuine volvo parts."

I did not have it done.

Does anyone else think that is riduculous? Maybe they were going to replace everything possible connected to the brakes....

Anyone have ideas about a cost to have it done? Even at the dealer?

 

Dorothy I am not laughing or scolding. Did they give you a list of the parts they were replacing? If so what were they? If this is just a brake job I believe it is too much but if there is more to it it may be resaonable.

 

I just did the front brakes on my '84 240 dl; each caliper was $84, a new master cylnder was $40 and the pads were $40 for both sides new lines were between 15 and 5 $. I understand that this is a difrent model and has abs but sounds like a bit much just for brakes.

 

First off don't spend big $$$ on genuine Volvo brakes. Volvo does not make brake parts. They are all out sourced. Most aftermarket stuff is fine. FCP will sell you 4 rotors and ceramic brake pads for $300.00 plus shipping. Even if you need all 4 calipers replaced add about $75.00 rebuilt each. Labor no more than 2-3 hours at $100.00/hour. Do the math. $300.00(rotors and pads) + $50.00(shipping) + $300.00(calipers) + $300.00 (labor including fluid flush) = $950.00. That is pretty much everything associated with a complete brake service.

 

I will never use anything except OEM pads on my cars again. I've tried others and they do not work as well and they squeal like crazy. We just had one guy on the 850 forum complain about how hard his brakes are to push. He switched to OEM pads and problem solved. I've been driving Volvo's for 22 years and I swear by OEM pads. I do use Brembo rotors though.

Oh yeah $1900 for a brake job is about as crazy as I have ever heard. You get the right parts and anybody can do a brake job on these cars. It's very staight forward.

 

Here's the follow-up. I took car to my regular mechanic who only works on Volvos and works out of his back yard. $300 for both front and rear brake pads. No new rotors--didn't need them like All Tune and Lube said.

He also found some other problems which I have no doubt needed fixing. All in all, $750

 

Sorry--posted twice somehow

 

Must offer a different view - used Brembo rotors and Akebono "Euro" ceramic pads on my '03 V70 2.4T (front) about 5 months ago - outstanding performance, dead silent and, to all intents and purposes, no dust

Pretorien

PS - been driving Volvos, on and off, for 47 years

 

I have read that when some people switch to the ceramic pads they feel like the have to push the brake pedal harder than they did with the OEM pads. Now this is just what I have read on message boards. I have not actual experience. How much does it cost for a set of Akebono pads?

I have to admit I hate the brake dust from the OEM pads, but I can not stand squealing brakes and I like the way OEM pads feel when it comes to stopping the car and those two things outway the hatred of the brake dust.

 

I bought mine from Tire Rack. They are $77 for a front set, $71 for a rear - in line with the OEM sets, I believe. I did not detect any difference in brake performance after the change but I must confess that, having been driving since before power brakes, I am more sensitive to modulation than to pressure. I have noted that the disks have remained absolutely smooth, differing only from their original state by being a bit more polished.

I decided to try these after driving a Toyota Sequoia for two years prior to buying the Volvo. It was a lot of vehicle to stop, ~ 3 tons and it stopped well with very little dusting. I decided then that perhaps the Japanese knew a thing or two about friction material.

On my reccomendation, a friend fitted a set to his VW and is very pleased

My real issue with the European pads is that not only do they dust heavily but, if one is not very attentive to the wheels, the dust combines with water to form a corrosive paste that can penetrate the clear coat and pit the wheels

Pretorien

 

I would really like to hear other peoples opinions on these pads. I drove several cars before power brakes and power steering also so I know what you mean. I am certain I would adjust to having to push the pedal a little harder, but my wife might be a different story, and we both drive all three cars.