Just a note that a commenter reported that he found the rope trick a pain, and had better success with an air compressor (using a fitting that screws into the sparkplug hole). He also recommends having a second person help, especially at the spring-compressing/keeper-fitting stage.

Mark

My cap failed. There were no cracks; it just didn't hold pressure. In my case it held nearly zero pressure, so when I squeezed the upper radiator hose, air would come out of the cap. Anyway I wouldn't rule out the cap just because of how it looks.

You could replace the cap with a $10 parts-store one to see if that fixes the issue (and then get a reliable Volvo one if so).

Back home in SF now, after a nail-caused blow-out coming back over a different twisty, cliffy mountain pass (the first was Sonora Pass, the second Tioga). Not my trip for car luck! Thankfully these cars have good manners with blown tires, or I'd be in the newspapers tomorrow: "Local Man Drives off ...

Update! When I squeeze the hose with cap on, I hear the air escape out of the cap. Bad cap, right?
Mark

Driving up a steep mountain pass, with the temp needle perfect the whole way, the low_coolant light comes on. Coolant is coming out rapidly under the expansion cap. The cap and tank look fine. I toppled up with water and made it to my destination, but it kept happening, a always with the rock_steady ...

You managed to replace it in the AZ parking lot? Impressive.

Google around for "brake pedal creaking noise". Linkage to master cylinder is one culprit.

And ... a little poking around on this forum has already revealed the answer (indefatigably posted dozens of times by Ozark Lee--thanks!): the sway bar end link nuts were not tightened adequately. Whew--an easy one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oWT_jms6OE

Came on very suddenly today. This video is me firmly pushing down on the front-passenger side. Using a long feeler (prybar), it definitely feels like the sway bar is involved. I just installed new sway bar links (as well as control arms and outer tie rod ...