Hey guys
I am not sure what could be the case but was hoping on your suggestions.
We bought our first volvo in 2020, it was new XC60. Amazing car, we really loved volvo and to get more space switched it to XC90 in 2022 but decided to go with used 2018 model which had 18k miles on it.

Perfect cars, both of them, with exception of one issue that also both of them have. Around spring time car starts to vibrate during braking. Which is clearly brake rotors or pads. We were visiting our dealer and with the new car, because of the warranty, they replaced everything for free. It happened 3 times in 2.5 years and our milage is around 10-15k a year. Which is crazy as I never had that ridiculous problem with any other cars in my life. Now, same issue with 2018 XC90, where I do not have a warranty for such thing. The volvo dealer said it is because volvo changed the type of metal in their brake rotors and those are very sensitive from going cold to warm/hot and this happens, they have many customers with the same issue and there is nothing they can do, bla bla bla. We live in Massachusetts, so yes we have winters but it still doesn't make any sense.

I am fine to pay and replace the rotors and the pads, however, the other day I saw one of the newest V60 and it had a polestar logo. What I noticed it had a huge brembo breaks kit and I believe it is OEM.

Questions:
1. Should I continue just to replace regular breaks because I was simply not lucky?
2. Should I use not OEM break kits? Any recommendations?
3. Should/can I find somewhere those volvo brembo kits for XC90 and go with those?

Please help. Thanks!
Max

 

I have a 2018 xc90 that’s had the brake issue also. I changed to an aftermarket set of ceramic pads and aftermarket rotors from fcp euro and it’s the same thing for these. I love the car but these brake issues are super annoying! I might just trade it in if my next set doesn’t fix it.

 

I know this is 9 months later but Volvo did a recall for this. I’m not sure if the recall fixed the issue or not. I have a 2018 XC 60, low mileage and have to replace them every year. This time it lasted 2,500 miles. 2018 didn’t make the recall but there’s no way this issue is a coincidence. I also had diagnostics done, and in hindsight, it seems odd they (Volvo) didn’t scan the brake system.
I took my car to a non Volvo mechanic yesterday and he believe the brake system is failing.
Just wanted you to be aware in case you’re still dealing with this.

 

You can try going to aftermarket rims and pads - You can try something like slotted or cross drilled rotors which vent the pads to help manage heat (basically, during hard braking the pad surface boils and that gas produced brake fad so you brake harder which makes more heat etc). For pads there's 3 types - organic (most OEMs are these) which are the softest for best brake feel and are the least hard on rotors - but do throw off that blackish dust, metallic (little bits of metal embedded in the pad to help the pad resist heat - but thse may heat the rotor more) and finally ceramics which manage heat better in the pad but again you need to press harder which heats the rotor. There's also some new carbon fiber pads that are supposed to produce the least heat. In terms of general rotor car there's a few things you can do. 1. drive less aggressively 2. when your brakes are new take care to bed the new pads properly (google for guidance) 3. check the torque on you lug nuts - really common for shops to over tighten. If you have studs the torque is in the 100ft-lb range, if you have bolts its closer to 80 (again google for your exact specs). Check periodically with a torque wrench.