I have 280k miles on my 240. The brakes work just fine. I took my Volvo in for maintenance for the first time to an Independent Volvo shop (first time there). They recommended that I have a new brake master cylinder but only because of the mileage on the car. If the brakes are fine, do I need to do this preventive maintenance?

no and you need a different volvo shop. I recently looked at a 245 wagon with 240,000 miles. It had all the service records. The local independant volvo shop had "replaced" the ball joints on both sides twice in the last 40,000 miles. Thsi is total BS, if a ball joint fails after 20,000 miles it was crap to begin with, and they were charging her for original volvo parts. ALso in total they had done $12,000 of similar ???repairs on a 12 year old car in the past 3 yrs. Beware the volvo shop, they are the reason everybody thinks that volvos are $$$ to maintain.

awful wide paint brush you got there. better said " beware of SOME volvo shops". there are many pros on this board. if they were thieves, they wouldn't be here for free. and so it goes, chuck.

I'd be suspicious of that shop's "recommendation". There is no reason to assume that the MC is original. In fact, IMO, it's very unlikely.
--
Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.

There is another failure mode of the master cylinder - that is that
it starts sucking brake fluid into the booster through the rear seal,
and that happens with little warning until your rear reservoir is empty.

As far as REPLACING the master cylinder, that probably isn't necessary
but I would recommend HAVING a master cylinder if you have any trouble
at all finding parts where you are. And I would not recommend having the
mechanic get it for you because it will be a LOT more expensive.
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Central US

only preventative step i would take is change the brake fluid every 2 years. i have a hard time believing that's the original master on the car. they fail right often when the fluid doesn't get changed. good luck, chuck.

No! The master cylinder gives you lots of warning. I've replaced mine twice. You'll notice a the brake pedal will move a little at a stop as it starts to go. This will slowly get worse. It gives you lots of time. The only thing I would consider changing as a preventative measure is the timing belt at 50,000 miles or so. When that goes you stop.
--
Simon 80 240 300k 17 years. 'White Lightning'