I have always used OEM pads. About 10 years ago, my wife's 1990 740 wagon was in for inspection and needed brake pads. I had the inspection garage install them. They used aftermarket pads. The pads squealed so badly that when applying the brakes, pedestrians nearby would cover their ears and make faces and terrible gestures at us. I replaced the pads w/ OE and never had the problem again.

Two weeks ago I needed pads for the same car. The Volvo dealer no longer carried them and directed me to a local supply house and told me to get their ceramic pads. He said that their service dept. purchased them for their more thrifty customers. I have not used the car that much since installing them but asked a mechanic about them. He said they would not squeal (and have not) and are just as good as OE. I think Wagner makes them and someone else...maybe Borg Warner.

I also have a '95 960 that needed brakes. I went back to the same supply house and they did not have ceramic brakes for that model. he said they did not make them; he did have a pad specifically designed for the vehicle...the fronts were metallic and the rears something else... a high heat no noise pad. I installed the rears, don't need the fronts yet. They cost $90 for both sets.

I really do not have enough experience with these pads to give them a thumbs up yet but preliminarily, w/ info from Volvo dealer, supplier, mechanic, they might be as good as the OE. I wanted to try them.

I also have 2 S70s, a 1998 and a 2000. I have only used OE pads on these vehicles. On the 1998 I changed them after 24,000 miles but they were only about half worn out but changed them as I changed the rotors. The time befoe, they lasted 51,000 miles. I only put them on the 2000 S70 one time and they are still on.

Do you torque your lug bolts? This will greatly improve rotor life. The rotors I took off were sill true and were the originals...117,573 miles. if your rotoors are even slightly warped they will decrease pad life When I buy tires, I remove the lug nuts and retorque. I think the recommended torque is 87 lb ft. you can get a good inexpensive torque wrench from harbor freight.

Good luck!