Volvo XC90 Front Brake Job

Post by **stone36** » 06 Mar 2010, 16:31

Hey all,
forgive me forum for nothing has broken lately, it has been 4 months since my last post...

So I am going to replace the pads/rotors on my XC90, I am pretty excited that they are original and I have 56K on the car. With that success rate I am REALLY leaning towards full OEM this go around, I usually buy form FCP and IPD and found something interesting, FCP seems to sell OEM pads and aftermarket rotors, and IPD sells OEM rotos and aftermarket pads.

So I am wondering what you all think and if the aftermarket on each of those sites are actually made by the OEM supplier, is this Volvo's way of controlling inventory, only offering parts for a job to be sourced from multiple stores

Also does anyont have experience with the MOTIVE brake bleeder, and which brake fluid do you recommend.
Thanks all

BTW, for those of you who are going to read this because you are going to do this job and don't know if you have 316MM or 336MM, you can read the part number on the rotor if it lined up right without removing the wheel. It is stamped on the outside of the rotor (if the rotor was a top hat and and laying flat it would be written around the had not on the "brim" if that makes sense"). 30657301=336mm and 30736406=316mm. Mine happen to be 336, yeah those cost more..

Post by **stone36** » 17 Mar 2010, 21:19

So I got all my supplies and will do the job next week. Does anyone have the PDF procedure for front brakes. It looks pretty straight forward, I pulled the wheels of last week and nothing looked new, but I have learned that you never know until you do it...

I am planning on taking photos as I go and posting as usual, but if anyone has the VADIS so I can read beforehand that would be great!
thanks

Post by **JDS60R** » 17 Mar 2010, 21:34

here you go

Post by **stone36** » 17 Mar 2010, 22:11

Thanks!
looks about like what I thought, but its always good to know in advance

Post by **stone36** » 28 Mar 2010, 10:51

So I did my front bakes yesterday, attached is my write up on the process. If anyone has questions let me know, I am happy to revise if this doesn't make sense.

I also used the Motive pressure bleeder system to flush the break fluid. It was easy as can be and should be a must have if you own more than one Volvo since it looks like they all share the same sized reservoir cap.

When bleeding I HIGHLY recommend alternating fluid colors, it think I wasted fluid because I was replacing the standard off yellow with off yellow. It's much more of a gradual change (it comes out pretty slow to the back tires) than I figure going to red or blue would be. Other than that it worked great.

2005 XC90 Front Brakes.pdf: (3.22 MiB) Downloaded 8463 times

nylanm · Post by **nylanm** » 05 Apr 2010, 20:42

so where should I go for pads and rotors. I have an 2004 T6.

Post by **stone36** » 06 Apr 2010, 09:10

There are ads on the top of this page for a bunch of suppliers, I have only used FCP and IPD personally. If you have the big rotors (336mm) and want to go 100% OEM, you can get the pads from FCP and the Rotors from IPD. I went with both from FCP, which was aftermarket rotors and OEM pads. Good luck.

Post by **matthew1** » 06 Apr 2010, 12:49

Wonderful writeup, thanks Stone. Pinned in the Repair Database.

darinb · Post by **darinb** » 20 Apr 2010, 08:49

I used nordic/Pilenga discs (mine are 336mm) from FCP Groton and Wagner Thermo Quiet's from Advance. I coated the back of the pads with the crc disc brake quiet that comes in the little plastic bottle. After a fow thousand miles they are doing great. No noise and good stopping power.

EbnOzn · Post by **EbnOzn** » 27 Apr 2010, 07:03

Stone:

How do you like the aftermarket rotors from FCP Groton? Good quality? Zinc coated (or coated somehow) to prevent rust? Just trying to avoid cheap flimsy knockoffs that will warp. FCP Groton usually has high quality aftermarkets, just wondered what you thought of them.

--Mark