302mm front brake overhaul/refresh 98 s70

[coop]

Need new brakes for the car and looking parts are relatively cheap so I’m looking to replace/refresh most of what I can while I’m there since it’s almost 30 year old parts with 200k on it.

So I’ve been acquiring parts for the job and wondering if need new bolts/pins etc.

But so far I’ve ordered

Pads
Rotors
Stainless brake lines
Retaining clip

It’s looks like there’s 6? Bolts per side. 2 for the caliper bracket and 4 on the hub/rotor. Do I need to order 12 for the job?

Do I need new mounting pins for the rotors or are those reusable?

What about caliper pins and the grommets? I see rebuilt calipers are pretty cheap and been debating about just buying some and replacing those too. Any pros/cons with that

I think that’s about it for now. But is there anything else I should be doing while I’m there?

[Caesium]

302mm are some of the best improvements you can make to a P80. Your list is just fine as it is, better to stop there and have enough time and money leftover for the rest of the car!

You shouldn't need to touch the 4 bolts for the hub unless you are intent on replacing them just to have new ones. Nothing to do with your brakes on those. There's two 7mm caliper slide bolts, and two 15mm brake caliper bracket bolts per side. If you want to replace those, that's what I'd do, but I've always reused mine and reapplied red thread locker to the caliper bracket bolts.

For these cars I'd stay away from ceramic brake pads, they don't offer the right bite point of emergency braking, and dust = stopping power. ATE pads and Zimmerman rotors is a good setup most people have, with Technafit stainless steel brake lines. In terms of rebuilt calipers many people have had mixed success but usually painting them will help them to last much longer. I got my rebuilt front calipers from RockAuto.

[scot850]

I replied to this yesterday, but again it seems to have disappeared! Caesium has covered what I said.

Does your car already have the 302mm brakes? Being a T5 it may.

On the assumption it has, I agree with everything except the brake pads. I have used Akebono pads on my P2 and P80 cars with no issues. This is a personal preference and you will find different opinions on the subject as here. Then you get the braking but not the dust. If you can find Nugeon rebuilt semi-loaded calipers they are coated and come with a refurbed caliper bracket. At that mileage if it has the original brackets they are done.

Watch the quality of the slider pins that come with calipers. They are often what I call pot metal and really soft junk.

I also reuse the bolts but use blue Loctite/Permatex thread locker.

Rock Auto have the Nugeon calipers as well as Brembo rotors which are now my go-to rotors after having issues with Volvo ones on our P2. Or you can go to FCP with their lifetime warranty on all parts.

Good luck!

[coop]

Yes it already has the larger brakes on them

A few of the rebuilt manufacturers state they come with brackets. For the $40 or so its only a few dollars more then pulling ones at a junkyard

The expense problem comes in when I start looking at everything else. With various sources I think I’m into everything so far for less then $200 so I can’t complain there. I need to also start looking at a suspension refresh and would probably replace the hubs if I do the control arms/shocks/etc

[coop]

And brake dust isn’t my biggest concern. I’d rather have durability and less noise and deal with more dust if that’s the case.

But on the other end cheap parts. I almost want to buy some $6 pads on rockauto just see how bad they are. And some $9 control arms. But it has me thinking it would be a fun rambler or gumball project buying another cheap 850 and just putting the cheapest parts I can buy into it.

[scot850]

That is assuming your cheap parts made it to the start line!!

I have not had any squealing brakes for many years on my P80's. Not since the mid-00's. Volvo's used to be known for squealing brakes (in UK we even had stickers saying that!). But since then I can't say I have had many issues. Many of the cheaper pads have an anti-squeal shim (Volvo used to sell those) now fitted to them.

I still use copper grease on the rears of pads even with the shims built in. I have limited different brand use to say different as I have only used Volvo and having got fed up cleaning the wheels every tire season on 4 cars, I adopted the low dust Akebono option. Made my life a lot easier.

I thought your car would likely have the larger brakes on it. Only wish we had the 320mm option that could be bought in Europe years ago from Volvo!

Good luck!

Neil.