Volvo AWD 850 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 6/2007 850 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

Brake Job 850

posted by  tallbuild45 on  Mon Nov 20 11:11 CST 2006
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

I'm at approximately 115,000 on my 1994 sedan. Brought it in to my regular and good volvo mechanic to look out for brakes and general creaking

He is telling me that I need new struts (front and rear/both sides) and all new brakes: front and rear discs and pads.

the brakes alone are going to be $800-$900. Should I bite the bullet or should I have it done at a discount brake place? I'd appreciate any thoughts on the matter. the struts are going to be $300-$400

I'm not sure what we're going to do long term with the car. any advice would be helpful.

thanks,

Alex








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Brake Job 850

    posted by  Moregolf on  Tue Nov 21 00:08 CST 2006
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Tue Apr 22 07:55 CST 2008
    [RELATED]

    Do the brakes yourself. They are easy ones to do. I just did my fronts and backs on a 97 GLT. The fronts ran $140 at me door. The back ran $130. About 2 hrs of work. Bought from FCPGrouton








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Brake Job 850

    posted by  someone claiming to be gwen on  Mon Nov 20 14:23 CST 2006 [RELATED]

    I did want to qualify one thing on 850 brakes especially the back rotors. You have to back off the parking brake shoes from inside the car using the adjuster under the plate in the floor of the armrest compartment. Then you have to take a small flat head screwdriver to stick through the rotor and spin the star gear that finally backs off the parking brake shoes. The haynes book is really fuzzy on this detail. You think the rotor is stuck and pound it off and wind up wrecking the parking brake assembly. (yup, I did it) On the front rotors, they will stick to the bearings with time and you have to be carefull yanking them off too. Use lots of PBR Blaster. I use white lithium grease on the backs of front rotors now, so they don't rust to the bearing. Cross drilled rotors seem to last alot longer as they run cooler.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Brake Job 850

    posted by  someone claiming to be gwen on  Mon Nov 20 13:18 CST 2006 [RELATED]

    Alex:

    The brakes on the 850 are a piece of cake!

    First, go to the dealer and get a rear brake kit. This is a kit with 4 metal pins and two pressure clips.
    Then go to speedycarparts.com and get new rotors and pads (zimmerman rotors and pbr pads for about 200.00 for all. The kit at the dealer is about 25.00.

    You only need a 15mm socket and a 7mm hex for the front brakes and a hammer and pliers for the back! On the back you just tap out the pins that hold the clips on and push the caliper pistons back in with the pliers. Make sure the brake fluid res. cap is loose. Spend 25.00 and buy a haynes manual! Easy. The rear shocks on the 850 can be replaced in about 1 hour. Just buy shocks and new shock mounts. Book explains as well. I put Bilstien touring on and they are nice. About 140.00 with mounts at speedy. Struts on front is out of my league because you need an alignment.
    Get the Haynes book! It's really good for the 850.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Brake Job 850

    posted by  Jack43 on  Mon Nov 20 11:40 CST 2006
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Thu Oct 25 15:39 CST 2012
    [RELATED]

    The brake job sounds high and I doubt you need new rear rotors. You can do this yourself and save a bundle, it's not a hard job. Check out parts prices at www.idpusa.com and www.fcpgroton.com . The strut and shock price sounds a bit low.

    I replaced all my pads with PBR Metal Masters two years ago and my front rotors with Zimmerman. No squeal, no dust and excellent wear.
    --
    96 850T, Bilstein HD, IPD swaybars-HD endlinks








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      Brake Job 850

      posted by  tallbuild45 on  Mon Nov 20 11:50 CST 2006
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

      I'm not terribly well equipped to do it myself.
      The strut job is actually just the strut tops for $350ish. does this make more sense?

      The $800-$900 full brake job includes both front and rear rotors and pads all volvo oem. the back overheated because the front was below the minimum. all done and quoted at the Model Garage in Berkeley. A shop with a stellar reputation, from what I know.

      A shop in SF called Don's (also recommended by some) said the complete brake job would be $550 using ceramix (is this right?) pads.

      recommendations would be appreciated.

      Thanks








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

        Brake Job 850

        posted by  someone claiming to be gwen on  Mon Nov 20 13:29 CST 2006 [RELATED]

        Ceramic pads are supposed to be the best, but I have found they generate alot of dust. Mintex "red box" pads have produced the least dust of any pad I have tried.








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

        Brake Job 850

        posted by  someone claiming to be gwen on  Mon Nov 20 13:27 CST 2006 [RELATED]

        Alex:

        Don't the shops allow you to bring in your own stuff? The strut "tops" you speak of are the "spring seats" and the metal spacer comes out sometimes and they wear as they turn against the bearing plate. They are about 40.00 each. So your mechanic is charging you 250.00 to compress the springs turn a couple bolts and re-align the car. Make sure they check the sway bar end links (about 26.00 at Groton.......they clunk more than any other component because they are connected to the sway bars.







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.