Hi,

I need to replace the brake fluid on my '96 850 Turbo Wagon. Based on the positive reviews, I've ordered a Power Bleeder so I can pressure bleed the system. I'll be using ATE Super Blue fluid, which has worked well in my Porsche.

I'd appreciate some advice on the preferred technique to replace the brake fluid, as there are some significant differences between the Haynes and Volvo shop manuals.

The Haynes manual indicates that fluid replacement is not anything more complicated than an extended bleed procedure (i.e., just running all the old fluid through while bleeding). They recommend doing both of the rear calipers first (order not important), and then right front and finally left front. Since I have the UK Haynes manual but have a left hand drive car, I assume the front sequence should be inverted for me. The Haynes procedure is essentially what I'm used to on the Porsche.

However, just to cross reference I checked my Volvo shop manual for brake fluid replacement. There are two major differences versus Haynes. Volvo suggests the inverse order of wheels (e.g., start with the left front, then proceed to the right front, left rear, and right rear calipers). As well, for fluid replacement Volvo also recommends pushing the brake pistons in all the way (presumably to push out all the fluid, although I would have assumed that the pressure bleeder would have been sufficient for that purpose).

What have people found to be the best procedure?

Thanks in advance,

Garth