Hello, I am a new first time volvo owner of about 3 months. My car just turned over 40K miles and it is time to do the front brakes. I miked the rotors last night and they are right at 0.940" or 23.876mm thick. I understand the minimum rotor thickness is 23.8 mm, so I guess they need to be replaced. Are there any reasons I should not buy the Brembo rotors and PBR pads from IPD vs. OEM factory parts. IPD advertises that their pads offer longer rotor life. I searched the archives and only seemed to find info applying to 850's from a year or so back.

Thanks in advance,

John

I just put the PBR rear pads on my car. My reasoning was primarily brake dust elimination and reports that they are longer lasting. So far I've not noticed any squeaking and have not noticed any difference in braking distance. I just basically do light city driving. I would recommend PBR, I've got a set of front pads waiting to be installed when it's time.

I switched to PBR pads in the front because of the dust created by the OEM pads. The PBR pads are virtually dustless and don't squeak after 15,000 miles. I still have the original rotors and rear pads on the car. As you may be able to tell I am pretty easy on the brakes. I have heard that PBR pads on the rear will squeak no matter what you do with them so I will probably go with OEM when the rears need it.

The information for 850 series also applies to 70 series since

the brake components are the same. So, the archive information

can be used.

I know some people have reported problems with after-market brake

parts (vibration and more common are squeeky pads). Some also

report after-market pads do not stop as well (especially when

cold) and others say they stop as well as stock. In extreme

cases people have reported too many problems and pulled after-market

brake parts (rotor, pads, or both) after installing them and

replaced them with OEM parts.

If you are happy with OEM braking performance (regardless of

component life) then I would stick with the OEM parts.

I cannot vouch for aftermarket pads/rotors, but I do like the stopping power of the OEM. I have recently driven a new S70 with slotted disks and PBR pads and it seemed that it took forever to stand still. Also, the owner of this car reports increased inclination towards warping.

Therefore, when I needed new rotors/pads at 46K. I called Don and Volvoparts.com and got the OEM from him.

Just my two cents.

Andrew T. Watson

I do not understand the variance in opinions on brake pads!

I have used IPD/PBR pads on all my cars for years with no problems in braking. That includes two 240 cars, two 740 cars and a '98 S70.

If anything, the '91 240 and '98 S70 cars are too sensitive.

By that I mean the brakes are two powerrful, and it is hard to moderate.

After 25K on the S70 I have 60%left in front and 50% left on the rear.

I must be easy on brakes! My son also commented that the brakes on it were too sensitive.

The one situation where the IPD pads are bad is a morning after a foggy, 100% humidity, rainy night. The first stop is uncertain, but after that is OK. I have never found any lack of braking power, ever (other than that)

including towing my trailer down a mountain in NH where the front brakes were smoking and smelling bad. But they still worked good!

Rich