98 V70 Cardone front calipers - review

[abscate]

...makes you wonder about all those brake jobs they are doing to Volvo Spec.....

[PeteB]

The rust proof coating on these is nearly everywhere, the caliper mount bracket
surface that mates with the knuckle is painted - anyone scrape or file it off?
I think it gets into the screw threads also.
I wonder about it in the slide area keyed for the pads, it reduces the clearance,
I suppose some metal is lost to rust - anyone scrape that off?

[abscate]

I greased over the paint/coating and that worked fine

[PeteB]

It is all back together, first side, new Bilstein strut, axle regreased and booted,
new coated Cardone caliper. Test drove it and I smell burning brake pad.
Going to go over the rears since it has been over a year and I'm sure that they
are rusted up and probably sticking, again.

[PeteB]

Went to the dealer, parts guy says the 8 bolts are about $50 and they are not in stock.
I mentioned that the manual calls for new bolts.
He says, I work on Volvo's all the time and never change them, don't worry about it.

100 Nm is about 74 ft lbs, I read 77 somewhere going to go for 75 and call it good.

Noticed that the bolts are on sale at FCP for around $3 each so I bought the strut and
caliper bracket bolts.

[WhatAmIDoing]

Just finished putting new Cardone coated calipers on the front of my S70. The pins were stainless steel 7mm allens and looked OE, the dust boots and caps looked OE, and the bleeder screw was 11mm just like the old one. The locking spring clip was very strong stainless steel (almost impossible to put on), and in all, all the hardware looked and felt OE. My only complaints are that the calipers were drenched in some kind of really slippery oil/grease despite having a weather-proof coating, the slides/pins were cranked into the bracket with locktight, the pins were (over)coated heavily in some sort of clear/white grease and I had to clean some of it off, and lastly the weather proof coating is extremely easy to scratch/rub off (and I'm sure all the brake fluid didn't help). I'm only really mad about that last complaint, but other than that, I feel they are a solid value for rebuilds. Unless you really care, i recommended saving a few bucks and buying the non-coated ones and painting them yourself.

Here to update my review. The driver's side caliper has seized tight on the rotor after only one year of use ~12,000 mi. Back to FCP it goes. Also, the bleeder screw appears to have transmuted into lead. I can easily crush it with a pair of pliers. Finally got it loose, but it was a fruitless task as the caliper still would not release. The coating is also peeling and corroding, not worth the extra money.

[wizechatmgr]

Just finished putting new Cardone coated calipers on the front of my S70. The pins were stainless steel 7mm allens and looked OE, the dust boots and caps looked OE, and the bleeder screw was 11mm just like the old one. The locking spring clip was very strong stainless steel (almost impossible to put on), and in all, all the hardware looked and felt OE. My only complaints are that the calipers were drenched in some kind of really slippery oil/grease despite having a weather-proof coating, the slides/pins were cranked into the bracket with locktight, the pins were (over)coated heavily in some sort of clear/white grease and I had to clean some of it off, and lastly the weather proof coating is extremely easy to scratch/rub off (and I'm sure all the brake fluid didn't help). I'm only really mad about that last complaint, but other than that, I feel they are a solid value for rebuilds. Unless you really care, i recommended saving a few bucks and buying the non-coated ones and painting them yourself.

Here to update my review. The driver's side caliper has seized tight on the rotor after only one year of use ~12,000 mi. Back to FCP it goes. Also, the bleeder screw appears to have transmuted into lead. I can easily crush it with a pair of pliers. Finally got it loose, but it was a fruitless task as the caliper still would not release. The coating is also peeling and corroding, not worth the extra money.

Thanks for the follow up. This will save many, including myself, some wasted $$$.

[WhatAmIDoing]

Just finished putting new Cardone coated calipers on the front of my S70. The pins were stainless steel 7mm allens and looked OE, the dust boots and caps looked OE, and the bleeder screw was 11mm just like the old one. The locking spring clip was very strong stainless steel (almost impossible to put on), and in all, all the hardware looked and felt OE. My only complaints are that the calipers were drenched in some kind of really slippery oil/grease despite having a weather-proof coating, the slides/pins were cranked into the bracket with locktight, the pins were (over)coated heavily in some sort of clear/white grease and I had to clean some of it off, and lastly the weather proof coating is extremely easy to scratch/rub off (and I'm sure all the brake fluid didn't help). I'm only really mad about that last complaint, but other than that, I feel they are a solid value for rebuilds. Unless you really care, i recommended saving a few bucks and buying the non-coated ones and painting them yourself.

Here to update my review. The driver's side caliper has seized tight on the rotor after only one year of use ~12,000 mi. Back to FCP it goes. Also, the bleeder screw appears to have transmuted into lead. I can easily crush it with a pair of pliers. Finally got it loose, but it was a fruitless task as the caliper still would not release. The coating is also peeling and corroding, not worth the extra money.

Thanks for the follow up. This will save many, including myself, some wasted $$$.

Looks like FCP no longer carries Cardone rebuilts for P80s. Wonder how many have been returned? Doesn't really save me money thanks to the FCP replacement warranty, but avoiding these will surely save you a lot of time. Too bad new Volvo calipers cost $200.

[PeteB]

I might just return these and rebuild, I don't feel safe with the Cardone's.
The FRONT brakes have worked fine on this car - always.
I'll stop in at FCP and see what they think about them.

I ended up putting in the coated Cardones on the front and now just about 1.5 yrs
later the front driver's side is dragging hard. Son got the car to my house and the
brake was smelling and smoking a bit.

[abscate]

I put Cardone’s front on the 99 sourced about 4 years ago from BAP GEON

Still going well.