I've had a bad wheel bearing before (same wheel) and replaced the entire hub assembly (another Volvo special where you can't just buy the bearing). I remember well what the bad bearing felt like, and I don't think that's the current problem.

The same Speedy did tell me that both lower front ball joints and a tie rod were warn and needed to be replaced, but I didn't want to pay $280CDN/side for parts (again, volvo makes you buy the control arm with the ball joint). Could worn ball joins be the cause of overheating through misalignment or something?

I'm wary about taking the car back to the same Speedy since they told me they couldn't find anything wrong with the caliper. I had the wheel off myself and I could freely move the rotor when the brakes were cool--everything seemed fine. None the less, it still overheats.

I rue the day that I take this car into the dealer. I know i'll be $3k poorer if I do. Maybe I'll try to find a volvo specialist in town.

Any other suggestions?