Well, my "new" '93 945 needs rear brakes. I ordered pads and rotors from Tasca. They arrived today and ...GASP... rotors are made in China, pads in India. All in Volvo boxes, no funny stuff (Tasca is excellent). What's up? They were not very expensive, I even chuckled to myself as I was ordering them (rotors $30/each, pads $22/set). Have others notice Volvo parts coming from China? I am a bit surprised, disappointed, unsure if these parts cut the mustard any more. Please chime in with your experience buying Volvo branded stuff made in China. Not sure if Chinese stuff is getting that good or Volvo is just going "competitive" with most auto part retailers. I usually am pretty willing to pay a small premium on brake parts and get only Volvo. I do the same with suspension parts. Antenna mast can come from wherever, but my chassis, brakes and engine stuff is mission critical.

I am simply stumped!

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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual

I bought rear rotors from autozone about 3 years ago. Made in china. They're installed on my 91 240. Ive had no problem with them. The brakes work fine. No wobbling, squeaking, nor lack of braking power.

Im just saying.


Larue

According to my loudmouth friend;Volvo 240 brake rotors are still availiable from Brembo, and made in Italy.The Italian rotors are more expensive,(about $60 bucks each)...Furthermore, he claims that Zimmerman cross drilled rotors from IPD, are made in Germany.(he may be full of crap, but I didn't want to argue with him)...and, I'm pretty sure the last Volvo OEM front pads I bought for my 85 240, were made in Sweden.
It would not suprize me if Chinese rotors and pads were more common for newer Volvos.Classic 240s are steeped in tradition,and I'll bet there are many proud stubborn Swedes who refuse to compromise with Chinese parts.
I always order stuff over the phone, that way I can ask the country of origin and manufacture of parts before ordering.

There will probably always exist a non-Chinese alternative. For example, I think you can still get Ate rotors that are not Chinese. My point and the reason I started this thread is that ordering Volvo-branded parts does not guarantee non-Chinese origin any more. I usually feel pretty good buying Volvo-branded parts, but now I will probably rethink this position.

Well, I am off to actually install the rotors and pads now. I have been under the weather and the parts have just been sitting in a box on my living room floor. The cat has enjoyed sleeping on top of the packing newsprint.
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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual

it's important to note in 2010 volvo cars was bought by a chinese owned company, so i wouldn't expect new parts from sweden/germany.
i installed brembo rotors and OEM pads front and back in mine this past year. no complaints so far, but we'll see i guess.

Most Brembo rotors are made in China these days. There is no escape.

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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual

Well, I am going to install these and hope for the best. I was just really shocked when I saw "Made in China" on a Volvo box. Also, China has been getting out of the "cheap crap" business and getting more "high end" stuff manufactured. Many knife makers that are traditionally US-made, like Buck and even Benchmade now have blades from China. I have a Benchmade knife with a Chinese blade and it's a first-rate knife blade made out of very good steel that holds the edge. It's not that good quality things can't come from China. It's just that China has chosen to be a "cheap crap" manufacturer to the world. I think as things change more and more they are getting into higher quality markets. I hope that's the case with Volvo rotors. I hope that Volvo has qualified these things properly and made sure they stand up to the Volvo brand that we all know and trust.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual

You may have to be on the north side of 60 to appreciate this.

Dr. Emmet "Doc" L. Brown: "No wonder this circuit failed, it says made in Japan."

Marty McFly: "What do you mean, Doc, all the best stuff is made in Japan."

Doc: "Unbelievable."

Maybe now all the best stuff comes from China.

Yes, even though I am not old enough to remember Japanese stuff being crappy, I've been told numerous stories about it by my parents' generation. I have read somewhere that China is getting out of cheap crap business little by little. I think it was about the shoe industry. How more and more shoe factories close in China. Those types of "cheap crap" businesses are replaced with more high end manufacturing. So, we may not be there yet, but China is moving towards manufacturing higher quality stuff. They've got a generation's worth of bad reputation to work off, though.
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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual

Well besides the disappointment, we should keep in mind China makes nearly all of Apple's products, so like any country, even the USA, there is wide range of quality practiced.

I looked up these rotors on Tasca, and it seems they were $25 each? Listed $55. At this price, it seems harder to be concerned.

Down the road, let us know if rotors give you problems.

Yep, I agree China is capable of producing good stuff (tea, fireworks, macs, etc.), but Chinese brake rotors were always made of crappy steel. You are right at $30 (I think that's what I paid) the rotors are inexpensive, which I guess will have to substitute for good enough. This is, after all the world of lowered expectations bought for a price reduction.

Time will tell...
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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual

Ack! Global economy hits...

I need some new rotors too, and was thinking Brembo or Volvo, so I'm curious on how either wears over time...

I have had Chinese-made auto parts that ranged from good to worthless. Things are changing so fast, it is hard to know.

In recent years I have purchased three complete sets of Mexican-made Brembo rotors. The price was great and they seemed fine. The only complaint was that they rust like crazy. They instantly turn rust colored in the rain or when you wash the car. Not attractive if the rotors are highly visible through your wheels.

That being said, my daughter recently reported a warped Brembo on her car. Those rotors are about 2 years old as I recall. Perhaps I will spend a little more next time.

Sometime ago, I intalled a pair of Brembo rotors and PBR pads on my 240. The rotors also warped with 2 years. Didn't notice where they were made. Since then I only buy OEM pads. I think OEM or Zimmerman are the best rotors. Apparently, Brembo isn't what it used to be....

The Roulands (Volvo) pads have been made in India for quite awhile. I remember intalling a pair on the rear of my 850 about 4 years ago and noticed they were made in India. FWIW - 850's have the same rear brakes as 740's and possibly 940's. Don't know for sure about the 940's, but the box said "Volvo 740".

hello
the brembo front rotors i got last week were/are made in china.
the antenna mast i have new in bag is made in mexico.
Hmmmm
hopefully the rotors are made to a quality spec.
good luck
Mike

I guess I was lucky.I bought a pair of Brembo vented front rotors from FCP about 2 years ago, and they were Made in Italy!I think they were about $55 bucks each. I must admit,I hate buying Chinese products, especially for my Volvos. My neighbor and good friend has 2 MGBs,and MGA, and two Rover TCs.He is a British car fanatic.He has ordered new grills, tail light lenses, etc for his MGs and much to his chagrin, they were Made in China!!
I'm over 5 and a half decades of age, and I can remember the days when people looked down on Japanese products."Jap crap!". Needless to say;times have changed..Now, if you want to buy Japanese products, you will pay top dollar.
The problem is, that nowdays, it is almost impossible to avoid buying things that are made in China! !
I have often thought of launching a "boycott China" movement crusade,,but,I decided not to after I realized that my shoes,computer,TV, stereo,CD/DVD player,etc..etc. were all of Chinese origin!
It's absolutely disgusting! Volvo "OEM" parts from China!
I try to boycott China, but then I go to find a new pair of shoes.Did you ever try to find a pair of US made sneakers?,,,or how about a cell phone!?...or,,let's go shopping for a new computer!..yes, let's find a nice new computer that's not Chinese!?
I guess you get my point.

Am I bitter?
Yes.

Am I wearing Chinese shoes?
Yes.

Will I be able to avoid buying Chinese made products?
No.

Where will my "Boycott China" bumperstickers be made?
China.

_________________________
Better get used to it.
70% of all American flags are made in China!
How about a slice of Chinese apple pie?

Uncle Art,

I don't have to like it. I'll not ever like or approve of it.

cheers,

MacDuff and his RWD Volvos (though four or five fewer Volvo than Uncle Art!)
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.sig me says the fuzzy kitty.

Please explain. I heard somewhere that Volvo passenger car division that was owned by Ford since 1999 is now owned by a Chinese company. I thought it was a joke. Is it really true? That would explain the Chinese brake rotors. That scares me. As I said, I will install these and they cost like Chinese rotors ($30/each), but in the future I will seek other suppliers. Our Swedish bricks are going junk! Nothing is sacred in the world!
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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual

Here, Wiki is my friend:

Geely Holding Group (simplified Chinese: 吉利控股集团; traditional Chinese: 吉利控股集團; pinyin: Jílì Kònggǔ Jítuán) is a holding company and parent of Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd (simplified Chinese: 吉利汽车; traditional Chinese: 吉利汽車; pinyin: Jílì Qìchē) (SEHK: 0175) a private Chinese automobile manufacturer. It is one the 10 largest China-based automakers.


In 2010, Geely sold less than its 680,000 units/year manufacturing capacity and bought Volvo Cars from Ford. Total sales in 2010 allowed the company a near 2% market share with 415,286 units.

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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual