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Brake upgrade? S40-V40 1998

Hi,

I am thinking of upgrading the brakes on my S40 T4 1998 but haven't found many options. Brembo makes several kits for diferente cars, but there site doesn't even have Volvo in their application guide. If you're going to cruise at >200km/h you need all the safety you can get: crashworthiness (S40 scores great!), handling and braking. What can I do to get the best braking performance? My wheels are the original optional "Crater 16"x7" (BBS).

Thanks!

///Martinez








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    Re: Brake upgrade? S40-V40 1998

    Try Mo'vit from Germany. They adapt Porsche brakes for other cars and can do a custom S40 front brake set in about 4 to 6 weeks.

    Expensive (about $2000 to $2400) and you will need 17" wheels to fit them, but very, very good!

    You could also try contacing Kalmar Union in the UK. I think they can do a brembo kit, but AFAIK it also requires 17" wheels to fit.

    Otherwise you could look into normal sized replacement brake discs from Tar-Ox, EBC and others with grooves or cross-drilled and perhaps higher performance/temperature brake pads.

    Driving on the autobahn with my T4 at 230 to 240 km/h and usually having to brake hard a few times in a row, I noticed that it's very important to have front pads with enough pad material on them. If it gets thin the you'll get much more brake fade. Also make sure you flush your brake fluid at least every 2 years and possibly every year to make absolutely sure that you have little or no moistiure in the brake fluid.

    Bye, Arno.








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    Re: Brake upgrade? S40-V40 1998

    Depands on what you are looking for. If you "cruise at >200km/h" for a hour or so and want the shortest stopping distance in case of an emergency, then new (bigger) brakes may not help. If you can lock up your tires (or activate your ABS) under hard braking at 200km/h by pushing progressively harder on your brake pedal (not just slaming on the brakes), then bigger brakes won't do anything. In this case, you should get stickier tires, as your tires are the limiting element of the braking system. A good R compound tire will give significantly better a shorter stopping distance, but you'll have to buy new tires every 5000kms or so.

    If on the other hand, you drive your car in such a manner that is repeatedly generating a lot of heat in the braking system (i.e. driving at a race track), and the brakes start to fade (i.e. you can no longer lock up the tires under hard braking), then you need to look into either bigger brakes, cooling ducts, or both to dissipate the heat.

    If you are just looking for something that looks cool, power coat the calipers red,yellow, etc and you're done :)







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