I recently installed Mintex (FCP) pads all around and it appears that they are made of bituminous (soft coal). Gonna lose the Mintex pads on the front.
Today I grabbed a set of "OEM quality" semi metallic pads at NAPA and hope that
they don't throw the huge quantity of black dust that the Mintex does.
The fronts are twice as nasty as the rears, as I would expect.

Bill

Wow.

I've had the Mintex pads on the S40 for about a year and a half now.
Excepting the first month or two (I consider that break-in) they have been dust free. I'd use them again. I've also used Axxis (formerly PBR, formerly Repco) and they have been good over the years too.

Too bad yours didn't turn out that way. Brake dust is very frustrating.

When you get tired of screwing around with cheap parts, try the Akebono ceramics. Very nice grip and almost zero dust.

Good luck.

Several different people said that they didn't like ceramic pads.

NAPA has 3 different choices for ceramic pads available, should I consider them instead of these so called OEM equivalent (Semi metallic) pads?

I have never heard good things about NAPA products when used on Volvos, which tend to be fussy about brake parts. In the long run, the cheapest Volvo parts are usually the most costly for the initial purchase. Cheap pads often squeal like crazy on Volvos.

I know that FCP doesn't like the Akebono and suggests other choices, dunno why.

I do know that if you search the boards like Sweedespeed, lots of people use the Akebono with excellent results. I am on my second set, with no complaints. The OEM pad has slightly better initial bite than the Akebono, but at the cost of lots of dust. The Akebono does have very good high speed performance, slows the car very quick with very little fade.

In the long run, Quality is the only bargain.

Hi again Norm,

You hit the nail on the head, FCP dumped on Akebono pads and peddled those lousy Mintex pads to me. I returned the NAPA OEM syle semimetallic pads and had to order their "Ultra premium" ceramic pads which are now installed. I'll let you know how they work out.

Bill

Bill,

I know we discussed this in another post, but IMHO Volvo pads are the way to go. They last a long time, never have issues, have good grip and I don't think they are as dusty as others believe they are. Or maybe their dustiness just doesn't bother me as much...:)

Jim