Almost 2 years now that I have my volvo, and I changed the pads about 6 months ago. Got EBC GreenStuff pads, HORRIBLE. Forst month was incredible, braking was awesome, now, my front pads are warped beyond bad. FUBAR. I talked to a friend who is a mechanic and he said that volvo rotors cant be machined, is this true? He said he can do it but i would be coming in to do it again every couple of months. So whats my other options, i was looking on eBay and i keep on seeing these drilled zimmerman rotors with mintex pads for pretty good prices. Has anyone put these on their cars? feedback please? Or should i stick with stock rotors and pads, if i do where can i get those other than the dealer, hopefuly cheaper... thanks

News to me that Volvo rotors cannot be machined . Volvo publish the minimum thickness after machining to be 0.905 inches, max run - out 0.0015 inches. Maximum thickness variation 0.0003 inches.

Good luck

KP

x,
I recently purchased a set of zimmerman rotors and pads and they are performing well on my 855T. I had brembo rotors and stock pads prior to putting the zimmerman rotors on. I only have about 5000mi on the new rotors but they do not show any signs of excessive wear or anything strange. Just for reference I had the Brembo rotors on the front for about 45,000mi. I had the rotors on the rear cut at a local napa just to straighten them up a bit when I put new pads on and they have about 50,000mi. on them. Keep in mind that if you put drilled rotors on that you need to put all 4 on or else your car will not brake properly. The drilled rotors have a bit more stopping power than the standard smooth rotors. Let me know if you have any more questions. I hope I helped.
Eric

Volvo recommends that their rotors not be turned, so it's true.
(With labor over $100/hour here, for independents, it is hardly
worth it, too.)

My preference is for OEM brake parts.

I have an 850 and S70 and with the 6 front rotors I have, or have
used, none warped (I also have a new OEM pair in the box for my S70 which
will need new rotors, soon). I do make sure the wheel lug nuts are
torqued to 81 lb/ft since over-torqued bolts are reported to be a leading
cause of warped rotors (no dealer, tire shop or indie has ever gotton all
20 bolts correctly tightened -- I check em every time someone else has
the wheels off). Other theories suggested (on this baord) are some pads
don't conduct away as much heat as oem pads causing rotors to run hotter
and warp. Another theory is holding the brakes down while stopped at a
light causes a hot spot on the rotor. But nobody really has a "scientific" study, it seems, as to the cause of warped rotors (well, maybe Volvo
does).

www.volvoparts.com sells OEM parts at a fair price (they are a
dealer). Also, check with the advertisers for this board that
sell OEM parts (see the banner ads at top of the screen).

I like Toyota/Volvo of Keene, NH. 1-800-445-6171, ask for George V. Mention Mike M.

First time I've heard stop-and-hold braking as a possible reason for rotor warping. I heard about the brake pad composition as a possible cause issue from an indy tech who showed me a TSB issued by a brake pad manufacturer. It indicated vehicles that drive a lot of highway miles and experience frequent rotor warping; it assumed proper lugbolt torque was previously established. It recommended softer, heat-absorbant pad material. Since that change, I've yet to warp another rotor in over 375K miles. (I still have OEM's on my S70, but they're dusty so I suspect they absorb heat the way the older OEM pads didn't.)

Here is another discussion that also lists brake pad composition as possible cause.
http://www.enterprise.com/fleets/servicesense/01_01/fc03e.html
--
(98 S70 T5SE misc mods, mostly lighting) (92 940GLE)