Replaced front brakes 3x, still on original rears. Normal?

Hendoo · Post by **Hendoo** » 21 Jan 2018, 14:11

Greetings everyone.

I have a 1999 S80 with ~80k miles.

This was mom's car until a year ago. It has been meticulously maintained throughout its live by dealer or Volvo specialist indie shops.

I was looking through the maintenance records, and I noticed that the front brakes have been replaced about every 22k miles, with the rotors changed the last time, at 68k.

But I'm still on the factory original rear brakes. They still have ~6mm left.

On other cars, the fronts usually last ~2-3x longer than the rears. This car will be 5x at this rate.

So... I'm wondering. Is this normal? Or is it telling me the fronts are doing too much work, and the rears not enough?

I'm not sure what it takes to affect the front/back ratio, if it is changeable at all.

Or maybe I'm over-thinking this...

Any thoughts appreciated.

-TH

Post by **Rattnalle** » 21 Jan 2018, 14:22

The ratio sounds pretty normal, well not five times but 2-3 times like you say.

The life of the pads and rotors not so much. They should last much longer than that unless you abuse them hard which is why the ratio is off. Sounds to me like someone made a profit of your mother..

Post by **precopster** » 21 Jan 2018, 19:00

In 100,000km over 4 years I replaced the rear brakes once on my 2000 V70 (at about 80,000km) but I drive reasonably sedately. Front pads lasted in excess of 35,000km each time. That's about a 2.3: 1 ratio

Post by **June** » 21 Jan 2018, 21:20

My original rear breaks lasted 100,000 miles (11 years) before replaced on my 2004 S80 T6. Even then they had pad left. Rear rotors are still factory and at 152K rear pads are not even half worn yet.

My front breaks last 50k per set of pads and due to a bad break line holding left front break on destroying the pad and rotor on that wheel at 120k. Otherwise the front rotors would still be factory and I likely would be getting the third set of pads.

My car has always had only had genuine Volvo parts installed by the dealer. I can't say how many miles I would get on aftermarket pads. Also in traffic I use the standard feature of the Geartronic transmission to control the car rather than riding the breaks. I would imagine driving habits and type of pads would be the factors involved in determining the normal mileage between pad and rotors wearing out. June

Post by **Roger_850T** » 22 Jan 2018, 12:04

That's pretty consistent with what I see on my 850 and XC90. If everything else is looking good then I would consider it normal.

Roger

Post by **June** » 22 Jan 2018, 12:27

One thing you did not mention is the break fluid change interval? These cars have one. I have mine changed much more often than Volvo recommends. I have been having it done every two years or 30K. By then it is rather dark and afterwards it seems for quite a while the front and rear breaks seem to work better together. June

Post by **Rattnalle** » 22 Jan 2018, 14:39

June's brake consumption sounds more in line with what I'd expect and what I've seen on my P2 (and P80) cars.

I think every two years is actually the recommended interval for brake fluid but it's a recommendation not a must among the service items. A humid climate will require it more often than a dry one though. With excessive wear I'd suspect the calipers don't move as they should and a fluid change is worth a try and quite cheap and easy to do.

Worst I've seen was on a 745 '87 I bought for $150 with a promise I could return it if it didn't pass inspection. It passed with flying colours but later when I checked the brake fluid a rust coloured goo came out rather than a fluid..

Post by **June** » 22 Jan 2018, 15:13

Rattnalle wrote: ↑22 Jan 2018, 14:39 June's brake consumption sounds more in line with what I'd expect and what I've seen on my P2 (and P80) cars.

I think every two years is actually the recommended interval for brake fluid but it's a recommendation not a must among the service items. A humid climate will require it more often than a dry one though. With excessive wear I'd suspect the calipers don't move as they should and a fluid change is worth a try and quite cheap and easy to do.

Worst I've seen was on a 745 '87 I bought for $150 with a promise I could return it if it didn't pass inspection. It passed with flying colours but later when I checked the brake fluid a rust coloured goo came out rather than a fluid..

You might be right on the 2 years, but with the expensive ABS unit who would want to leave old fluid in there? I personally live on the water at Jacksonville Beach so high humidity for sure. It's only $100 at the dealer for the flush Dot 4 so I see it as cheap. June

Addendum says*** 2 years or 37,500 miles I am going to start replacing it every year. You should be familiar with the maintenance schedule and don't do any less than minimum. Some fool tells you something like run the oil 15 K or 1 year don't listen, these cars have minimum requirements in the book and Keep in mind these are not 2018 new cars. On the other hand many on here think I am a fool for exceeding the maintenance requirements servicing more often. I want my car to last the rest of my life if possible as I love the car.

Hendoo · Post by **Hendoo** » 22 Jan 2018, 23:54

Thanks everybody. It looks like I was over-thinking this.

FWIW the fluid has been changed regularly, and it has been well cared for generally.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Post by **abscate** » 11 Apr 2020, 05:56

Every time I read a thread about how June maintains her cars I want to drive down and put a first dibs deposit down on it , refundable incase of rollover