The big difference is that the braided lines don't swell shut into
check valves like the rubber ones do. Not sure about the newfangled
240s but on the 164 the rubber lines are less than 1/8" ID and they
do swell shut. When you brake they go on just fine because you pressurized
the line with a lot of pressure but when you release, there is no pressure
to open the line and let the fluid flow back, so the brakes drag and
wear out pads and disks. Since there are no leaks you don't even think
there might be a hose problem, and when someone told me that was what
it was, I didn't believe them.
--
George Downs, The "original" Walrus3, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Bill M:

How difficult they are to install depends upon your level of experience. If you've got a 240 blower motor or real main seal replacement under your belt, then it's dead easy. If the thought of replacing your own timing belt or water pump disturbs you, then I wouldn't attempt it.

If you decide to install them, I would strongly recommend soaking the fittings of the hoses presently on the car with PBlaster several times over a period of several days before attempting the job. I did this, and still broke one hard line on each car I installed them on, necessitating trips to the junkyard for replacements. Your car is newer than any of my 240s, however, and you have half as many front lines to deal with, so maybe you won't break any! Get some good metric flare wrenches. And you'll have to bleed/flush the hydraulic system when you're done - the Motive Products power bleeder is head and shoulders above the other power bleeders I've seen or used.

Finally, will you feel a big difference in the pedal travel or firmness? Not really. In fact, I'll bet if you drove all four of my 240s, you wouldn't be able to tell which two had the factory rubber lines and which two had the IPD stainless lines.
--
Mike W., '79 242GT (my project car), '85 245DL (son's project car), '87 245 DL (my daily driver), '90 244DL (son-in-law's daily driver), '91 744T (wife's daily driver), '94 944T (daughter's daily driver), Largo, FL

The IPD SS braid covered brake hoses have much less elastricity than the rubber/fabric Volvo brake hoses, and give a noticeably firmer brake pedal.

The brake pedal travel will be the same until the brakes take hold, and then the pedal travel is less.

Installation is simple if you don't mind opening the hydraulic brake lines and bleeding the system. You will want to buy some flare nut wrenches since it is easy to round the hex shaped tubing nuts with an open end wrench.