I would add to the comments of those people who recommend the stock pads.

I needed a new set of pads this summer. Browsing the net, it appeared that there were mixed reports for aftermarket pads, primarily in terms of not as good stopping power. For me, stopping power is the key pad criteria. I don't care about brake dusting, and even squealing. None the less, I did try a set of aftermarket pads that some people had felt were superior (KVR Performance pads). To make a long story short, after they had broken in I lived with both squeal and poorer braking for about a month before going back to a new set of stock Volvo pads.

Volvo braking systems are one area where the engineers (at least pre the Ford acquisition) seem to have won out over the corporate bean counters. The pads are a very high quality, high friction pad made by Textar. You pay the price of superior braking in terms of shorter pad life and more dusting, but I think it's worth it.

Garth