Brake Shim Replacement 850/S70/V70/C70

Mvs Volvo Diy -

Looking for a Brake Shim Replacement ?

By Tsquared

I recently replaced my rear wheel bearing and noticed that I needed to replace my rear pads as well. These were original pads that had minimal life left after 100k miles. I looked at the R&R procedure from the VolvoSpeed Bay 13 website [link no longer active -Matt] and proceeded to jump in for a rear brake job. It went well, no surprises, for a simple maintenance procedure that rates a 3 on my 10-point skill level of difficulty (9 and 10 being an engine or transmission overhaul – call the expert). The bearing replacement was successful and I had new rear brakes.

Then after about 100 miles the rear brakes started to squeal. Not just a light squeal, but the annoying, hey-look-at-me-I-have-something-wrong type of squeal. After a web search on rear brake squeal I learned that there is an Anti-squeal shim that Volvo came out with on a TSB. Also, a plethora of opinions on OEM vs. aftermarket brake parts and grease (I won’t go there). I couldn’t find anything other than a picture of the improved shim. Here are the steps for replacing the shims – very similar to a rear brake job.

Procedure
  • Remove rear wheel
  • Knock out brake pad retaining pins (punch, hammer, & pliers)


  • Remove
    pin with pliers (hands don’t get as dirty and I left the punch in the
    front side to hold the pad in place so the pad didn’t hit the floor)

  • Spread
    caliper (necessary on brake replacement but not on shim replacement)
  • Remove
    old shim and brake pad

  • New
    shim w/ orientation arrow on left, brake pad, and old shim

  • Lube
    back of pad and new shim (keep the new shim oriented so that it is
    pointing down – this is the passenger, outside pad)

  • Re-install
    pad

  • Re-install
    retaining pin and spring (don’t forget to put a dab of grease on the
    contact parts of the spring)

  • Finished
    brake – all I need to do is re-install the wheel and then do the other
    side
Conclusion

If I were doing a brake job, instead of replacing just the
shim, I would also bleed the brakes and try to purge all of the old brake fluid
to replace with new fluid. The emergency brake drum worked fine and did not
need any adjustment so I did not mess with it when I replace the wheel bearing
or the shim replacement two weeks later.

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Last Updated on August 19, 2020

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