06 XC70 brake pads and rotors

[scot850]

Yes, they don't carry them. Although not a fan I see several recommendations by reviewers of pairing Akebono pads with Zimmermann rotors. I am wary of FCP reviews as they are generally high. Any negative comments I have given have not ended up on the site!

Neil.

[oragex]

My brake pads last forever and I drive mainly city and tons of lights on top of it. Not even mentioning rotors. So yeah, maybe a 5 minutes talk about how to brake gently with just the same results in the braking distance, will save some money here. Or maybe have him pay for these, he'll learn faster.

I would expect most discs to wear at about the same rate, while for the pads, perhaps the Akebono will wear slower because they do leave much less dust (and less darker dust) so perhaps that's already an indication they wear slower (and brake a little less as well).

Finally, you don't mention how the wear on rotors was measured, but surely plenty of garages are willing to replace them rather a bit too soon. They can easily take per side a 1mm deep wear and even 2mm.

[scot850]

I measured the rotors. The fronts are at or close to the minimum limit, although I was tempted to throw a set of pads in there. Rears are really low. I used digital calipers and they are stepped sufficiently to clear any edge step.

My son is a good kid, and I have driven with him. Yes he may be a little harder on the brakes than me, but around here the other drivers are just plain suicidal and make dangerous manouvers like cutting into your line while you are braking for traffic lights so you have to brake harder. When I drive with him i am not gripping the seats!! I have spoken to him about trying to read the road conditions ahead to lessen the need to brake, or brake as hard. He did get the point.

He is given a break only because he is a student. Once he hopefully finishes university this year and has a job, things will change!

Neil.

[abscate]

Just looked back at my records and I've been rolling my front rotors and pads for four years 40k miles.

Better inspect them this weekend!

[E Showell]

Ok, so instead of shooting from the lip, I went back to the data (Steve will appreciate that), revealing the following: Last brake job on the '98 V 70, rear brake rotors (Zimmerman FCP) and pads (Akebono ceramic - FCP) at 291K miles in early August 2015. Rears need replacing now at 346K -- so 55K miles on a set of pads and rotors. The rear calipers probably need to be changed too. They were probably done at the same time but for some reason, I have no record of it. So 55K miles to set of rear brakes as opposed to c. 30K -- big difference.

[scot850]

Not 30k miles 32k km (20k miles)!! 2 sets of rear rotors and pads and a regrind on the rears in 35k miles. Fronts have one extra set of pads and rotors in that time!

Gong show with Brembo rotors and Akebono pads from FCP as well as Volvo OE parking brake shoes. Took 12 days to get here and customs opened the 2 boxes and someone dropped one of the rear rotors on its edge! Now waiting for a replacement.

FCP gets most shipments here well and no issues, but when there is a screw up it goes wrong big time. Now going to have to remove winter tires and then get the car back from my son again and do the brakes.

Disappointingly, the Volvo OE parking brake pads have a Made in China sticker on them. Oh, dear. Mind you, a full set of 4 costs less than one shoe for my Toyota 4Runner!

Neil.

[abscate]

Looking deeper back on the 1999 I’ve done front brakes three times (3x pads, 1x rotor) and rear brakes once ( rotors and pads) in 206k miles. Ms Abscate and Missy Abscates are all conservative drivers and the car had a 140k of town commute (very little stop/ go) and then all highway.

It’s not crazy that your life could be 1/3 of that in heavy city without blaming Jr.

With that life I shouldn’t be sparing a dime should I?

[E Showell]

No, but I can make you a deal on some used brake grease. . .

[scot850]

Well a quick update.

Fitted the new Bembo front rotors and Akebono pads. Hopefully these will be better lasting and cleaner then the OE parts. Peddle feels a little soft but brakes work better than those on the 'R' which also has Akebono front pads.

One caution when using the Brembo front rotors (280mm which are original size) is they do not have a rear chamfer where they fit over the hub. This means they sit near or on the dust shield and rub. Had to bend then slightly rearward to give about 1mm clearance.
Now all is quite there again.

Now have to find time to tackle the rears!

Neil.

[scot850]

Oh dear. Just discovered that FCP Euro supplied the wrong front rotors. There are 2 options, one for up to chassis number 229742 and a different one from there on. Same diameter but different thicknesses. Mine should have a minimum thickness of 25mm, the ones supplied for a later car have a minimum thickness of 23mm. I also thing the rear profile may be different and hence the issue getting them to not catch the dust shield. They thankfully work, as I have no choice as I junked the originals and their pads.

Now have to wait to see what they are going to do now. No idea why they sent those as I ordered the correct part # 31471830 and the ones they supplied are Volvo # 272403, so not even close on the part number. I stupidly missed this error as I was too busy trying to sort out the rear rotors one of which was damaged in transit by Customs or UPS.

I only figures out the mistake by chance as the new rear rotor box is a different size to the first 2 so went back to reconfirm the rear rotors were right and discovered the issue with the fronts. I am now mad with myself for not catching this, but even more so with FCP for shipping something I didn't order without bothering to speak to me first.

Neil.