Greetings,

My 78 and 82 240 have really strong brakes. Ive noticed whenever someone gets behind the wheel ,and they've never have before, the first stop is always an all passengers through the front window type of stop. One has to adjust to using just a light touch.

Not so in my 90 240. In fact, ditto for my 87 740. They stop good but more effort is required. Did volvo change something, or is it my brakes.

I like the way my older volvos stop.

Thanks

You'd like the S60's brakes. I test drove one, and all it takes is 'the beating of a butterfly's wings...' to send you through the windshield.

I don't know... I used to drive an old subaru where the brakes were really light, a tap with your ankle could lock up all 4... pretty bad... (well, the car weighted only 1500lb and has huge rotors infront by the gearbox, inbound brakes- and the damn previous owner just had to add a nice booster.)... but then I tried my friends 91'240 and it's quite heavy compared to the Subi... and now I drive a 144 where I use my leg. The other day I took my friends grand Cherokee out and I flew into the windshield...(Didn't have our seatbelts on...) I actually get quite annoyed to adjust myself to every car I drive... But after all, I prefer the 240 better... I get more of a brake feel.

I find it odd that your 144 requires a lot of effort. My 68 142 has an incredibely solid pedal. All it takes is a tap. The pads aren't even close to new, especially the rears(all soon to be replaced). I just replaced the master cylinder and bled the system about three times and they feel better then they ever have!

Hi Lawrence

Yes Volvo did change something - it was the break booster. The '82 has a larger break booster than the '90, hence less pedal effort is required in the 82 than the 90.

The actual breaking performance is the same (provided your '82 and '78 have vented front rotors like the '90).

If you want the '90 to feel the same as the '82 you could change boosters but I wouldn't bother at all. Just use pads that have a high friction coefficient like the ones made here in Australia by Bendix ("Bendix Standard") (www.bendix.com.au) which do contain asbestos though. You can buy them online at www.discpads.com Don't know if they ship to the US.

Regards

Simon

Melbourne OZ

1982 244 GL B23E

1987 245 GL B230F

Greetings,

Thanks for your response. That was the information I was looking for.

Do You have any idea why volvo made this change. One of the things I always liked about the volvo is the way it stops. But you're saying the brakes perform the same with more effort?

Well, Im going to bleed the thing through, and make sure I have good high friction pads. Then see what happens.

Thanks

Your 740 has single piston sliding calipers vs. the 4-piston solid calipers on the 240's. In my opinion, they have never felt as good as the 240 brakes. As for your '90, they type of pads could make a difference, as could the condition of the master cylinder, or a little air being in the system. Try a thorough bleeding of the entire system, in the proper sequence.