I have tried everything to keep the front brakes from squealing. New rotors, glueing the pads to the caliper, cleaning them, everything.

Does anyone know if the 95's came with shims??

The blue goo that should stop the noise doesn't do doodally squat

Had the same problem w/ a set of PBRs. I greased the caliper ways with disk brake grease (not even silicon based) and the problem went away except when I brake in reverse or it's wet out. Prior to that I tried the Permatex stuff (really a mild adhesive) and the Lucas shims with no success. Checked rotor runout with a dial indicator and they were well within spec.

Jim-

I install an average of 5-15 sets of pads a week and have NO noise complaints. My secret? Volvo OEM pads with the silicone grease on the sliding contact points. IMHO, there is nothing you can do to an aftermarket pad to cure the inherent noise or improve the substandard performance. If avoiding the black wheel syndrome is more important than noise or braking performance to you, live with the trade-off. No shims on 850 front brakes- not from Volvo, anyway.

Dave the Volvo Tech

'99 V70R AWD, '93 854 GLT, '82 242 DL

What kind of expert does one need to be to be able to install the brake pads oneself...my previous experinece is in changing a pair of front brake pads on a 79 midget...

Am I qualified or should I see professional counseling?

Tracy

Check out the site listed below, one of the posts is for replacing front pads, give it a look and then decide if you want to tackle it.

Tracy-

The only tool you need (after removing the wheels) is a 7mm hex driver. Remove the spring wire on the outside of the caliper. Remove the plastic plugs from the rubber sleeves on the back side of the caliper. Inside the sleeves are the sliding pins with the 7mm sockets. Unscrew the pins. Push the caliper piston all the way into the caliper. Lift the caliper off. Replace the pads, putting silicone grease on the pad-to-caliper-bracket contact points. Clean the sliding pins. Install the pins using a SMALL amoung of silicone grease on the smooth sides of the pin. Re-install the plugs and spring wire. Drive the car GENTLY for the first few miles, braking with light-to-normal pedal pressure. After you have completed 6-8 stops, the brakes should feel like they did with the old pads. If you get a brand new pad too hot too fast, you stand the risk of glazing the pad and will never have the proper braking.

Dave the Volvo Tech

'99 V70R AWD, '93 854 GLT, '82 242 DL

Replacing the front disk pad is a piece of cake- really!

Just go to Bay 13 and follow their very outstanding illustrated instructions.

I recently did the front pads and replaced the rotors and rear pad- all very very easy- assuming you can follow directions and have some mechanical aptitude.

Luck !

Thanks. I'll give it a go!

Tracy

Thanks Dave,

Monday I'm off to Tafel Motors in Louisville for a set of OEM pads.

The pads were on the car when I bought it. Lots of material left but I can't take the noise no mo!

Jim

Faced the same problem earlier with my Front brakes squealing away embarassingly. But my pads were at half-life. changed to Volvo OEM pads, no prob since.

rgds

jeff

95 855T5A