2000 S802.9 When to change brakes?

[jeffers]

Hi Guys, I got my 2000 volvo s80 6 years ago at 55k mileage, and now it's 90k mileage. I haven't never changed brakes, just wonder when is the right time to change brakes? at what mileage? should I change four of them all together?

Thanks a bunch!

[jimmy57]

Brakes are just like tires, they wear out at a rate determined by the person who sits behind the steering wheel. Only an inspection of the pad thickness remaining will determine when they need to be changed. The rears on S80's usually last longer than the fronts but not knowing when they were changed last makes any opinion on those also impossible to make w/o inspection.
Unlike tires, brake pads do not get aged and need to be replaced only because they are xx years old.

[oragex]

As above, we cannot tell if the brakes on your car are due because of the miles driven. If you drive on highway all the time, the brakes will last the life of the car.

The right way is to look through the wheel spikes at the brake caliper. You can see the exterior brake pad that sits on the brake disk. Look how thick the pad is, it could be anywhere around 1/4" or less. There is a metal plate on top of the pad which does not wear.

Depending on how much wear is on the brake disc, it might also need replaced or it's still good for quite a while. The disk doesn't need to be replaced when replacing the brake pads, except if it has too much wear. Careful with the garages, they are eager to replace everything, sometimes even too soon.

Good quality and inexpensive brake parts can be bought off Ebay, and had them installed by a local garage.

[jbkeene]

change brakes when you notice a reduced ability to stop

[Bruce Nussman]

Our 2001 S 80 has 150,000 miles and front pads were replaced at 77,000 miles and 149,000 miles. If pads wear down to metal to rotor you should hear a squeaking sound. Rear pads replaced at 125,000 miles. Most cars have 80% breaking on front brakes and 20% on rear.

Bruce