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HELP With Brakes.

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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Grantkat
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Re: HELP With Brakes.

Post by Grantkat »

follow on to that - looks like I am upgrading my scan tool. :)
1999 S70 GLT ~193k
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454cid
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Post by 454cid »

I would suspect the flexible brake hoses if fluid isn't coming out in a normal manner.

On my truck the ABS isn't in the loop unless activated, so I never mess with it when bleeding brakes.
1996 850
1999 S70 GLT (sold after deer hit)

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Grantkat
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Post by Grantkat »

Interesting....

so would a valid test be: disconnect the flex line from the hard line and see if I get flow at the hardline/flex line point? assuming the flex line is the issue, i would assume that I would get a good flow of brake fluid at that point if the flex line is the issue.

Although possible, why would 3 go out at once? just coincidence via age etc?
1999 S70 GLT ~193k
2014D VIDA/DICE
2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited ~ 315K
2008 Lincoln MKX ~130k
2008 Toyota Sequoia ~ 252k

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ZionXIX
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Post by ZionXIX »

Yea, just pick one wheel and work your way up from the caliper to each connection until you get good flow. All flex lines are known to degrade internally and cause all sorts of issues.
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MoVolvos
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Post by MoVolvos »

.
Have you tried bleeding the system with the car running. This is my new way bleeding brakes after a brake job. Have car running and press down while releasing the bleeder screw. Since the pedal is already going to the floor just loosen and then press down. You have to do all 4 in order to compare flow.

Obviously, this is a 2 person job but comparing all 4 can give you some idea where the problem might be. For instance if all 4 have no flow that means it's not in any of the system / lines out of the ABS module. From reading some of the forums this is a problem many encounter so could be a manufacture defect as in our P80 ABS modules.
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454cid
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Post by 454cid »

Grantkat wrote: 02 Mar 2026, 11:21 Interesting....

so would a valid test be: disconnect the flex line from the hard line and see if I get flow at the hardline/flex line point? assuming the flex line is the issue, i would assume that I would get a good flow of brake fluid at that point if the flex line is the issue.
That's what I had to do with my truck. I was getting almost nothing out the line disconnected from the caliper, and then after removing the flex hose, it suddenly flowed.
Although possible, why would 3 go out at once? just coincidence via age etc?
I hear that the flex lines can break down inside creating blockages. Maybe they've been bad for awhile but with introduced air there was enough of a cushion in the lines that the pressure was never great enough to push past blockages?
1996 850
1999 S70 GLT (sold after deer hit)

2010 Ford Focus SE
2006 Cadillac CTS
1996 Mercedes C220
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volvolugnut
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Post by volvolugnut »

If the brake fluid is old, it can really get to be sludge. And yes, hoses go bad on the inside. I replace hoses if I do a brake flush job on 20+ year vehicles.
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