Being 3 hours from the nearest Volvo Dealer, we usually have our 850 serviced at a locally-owned service station.

The 850 needed brakes (at 103,000) front and back, they said, "oh, we can get OEM-equivalent brake pads", which cost $80 parts total and $60 labor total (we live in "rural America", where prices are a bit more reasonable). And in the past (with our previous 240DL Wagon), they would always tell me if they didn't feel they would be able to service something unique about the Volvo.

However, the new brakes squeak intermittently TERRIBLY LOUD. The service station says they just need a chance to become seated properly, and the squeak should stop. If it doesn't stop "in a week or so", then bring it in again.

Would "generic" brake pads be problematic for the 850? Besides the obnoxious sqeaking? It is so loud outside, I dropped my family off by the door at a school concert, and it made everyone turn to see what the terrible noise was. The brakes seem to work fine, but are we in danger of damaging the rotors, or anything else?

Thanks for the advice.