'89 740 turbo sedan, 120K miles. Replaced the M/C, front hoses and bled the system three times. Pedal is jsut barely firmer than before. It stops pretty good once it engages, but I can't help but wonder just how high the pedal on this car is supposed to begin the action. I am really working the pedal much more than I believe it ought to require.

I am accustomed to my 240's giving a firm feel at the top. This car, about half way down before good ledal feel.

What the norm for the 740? How do I get it firmer?
--
"Can't understand why people abort Volvos, either"

Does your brick have ABS?

Our '90 744 Ti has a low, soft pedal IMHO, while our '88 745 GLE always had a high, hard pedal.

The difference was so great, the turbo would scare me the first brake application after driving the other car for a while.

I had the car checked a couple of times, with no problems found. In fairness, the car always stops great, and the ABS has always worked fine.
--
96 855R, 95 855,854, 90 744 Ti - 310,000 miles driven

You can increase the height of pedal engagement a bit by taking off the master cylinder and unscrewing the adjustable rod end on the booster side a bit. this helped my 745. You can do this without taking off the lines if you are careful.
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bagle 87 745t

This may be the answer. the ABS brake sysem does tops very well ONCE the pedal finds home.

My stops and various brake stabbings while auto crossing are great.

It's just that first few inches of nothing that I find annoying. As someone else had said, this shouldn't be the condition on a turbo, for cryin' out loud!
--
"Can't understand why people abort Volvos, either"

my 740 feels a bit mushy on the brake, and from the 3 other volvo's i've tested the brakes on, it feels about the same.

i wouldn't exactly say mushy, but rather the initial first half inch or so of pressing the pedal doesn't have a very quick response. however, once it stiffens up after that half inch, it is responsive. i like it. it isn't sudden or overpowered (unlike my parents' bmw 525i)

i replaced my rubber brake lines with steel braided ones from IPD and the pedal noticeably stiffened up. you may want to consider those.
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Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'

I don't know, I've always managed to get good brake feel in our 88 740 (non ABS, non turbo). I've replaced rear calipers and gotten a good bleed with the old "pump and hold" method too. I would have a look for stuck caliper slides or pins in all the calipers, looking for excess uneven pad wear (inner wears, outer doesn't) or other evidence of stuck calipers.
As noted the shims could be screwed up- I replace these with every pad change. Silicone brake grease gets rid of most of the squeals but not all, it seems.

You may have to use a pressure bleeder such as FCP sells - there could be air trapped in the brake warning light/distribution block thing.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 221K, 88 744GLE- 202K, 91 244 181K, 88 244GL 145K

Zee, I know exactly what you mean, I got the same problem trying to get my Mom's 91, 740 pedal firm. Not sure if it is because I remember a time when it was, or if I just know what a firm pedal is supposed to be like. I do know I am very unhappy with it. I noticed a Consumer Reports review I have on the 240's said stopping distances were greater than desired - ironic for cars that tout safety. They must mean when you get in a crash with a Volvo.

Anyway, it is causing me some close calls when I drive to close behind one of those Mitsubishi type, large diameter wheels/rotors, large caliper, lightweight, super quick stopping vehicles. Those newer designs stop those cars so darn fast it really is a problem for older cars that are too close behind them. I always have to stop almost by jamming the brake on really fast and hard, because of the pedal travel and the weight (I suppose). In fact, I was going to bring this topic up before and ask if anyone else had the same problem. I'm going like 30-40 mph and suddenly right after I see their brake lights start, next thing I know they are stopped a moment later. I'm not sure which is worse, that, or those drivers that signal a turn and then for some reason come to a full stop on the main road before they start turning - you should hear me cursing.

diyer, 89, 245; 91,740

Try driving at a sensible distance from the car in front!!!!!
By your own admission you are driving too close.

Colin.

high performance brake lines that do not expand like OEM rubber may help.
How are rotors and pads?

I dont see the "high pedal" brake engagement in my 945 or 745. 1 has ABS
1 no ABS. I drive various cars from time to time and usually notice how
crisp / direct brakes feel. on the other hand my '91 745 with 203K has
brakes that WORK, thats about it. very spongy even with new pads/rotors.
I worry more about things like belts/hoses/heater valves IE things that
can actually kill the car.

How many shims are in the brakes?
Both my 740s had lousy feel until I pulled out ALL the shims; squeeking is optional. The PBR Deluxe are quiet, the MetalMasters are occasionally noisy.
--
Jim McDonald