Greetings from the Hudson Valley!

I need to replace my 86 245 wagon's rear brake calipers and rotors. I have a 3 ton floor jack and a pair of heavy duty jack stands. Do I lift the rear end of my wagon from the axle and then lower it onto jackstands positioned on the OEM jack pins or vice-versa??? While I won't be under the vehicle, I want it to be safe. Thanks for your help!!

Many thanks to the four Volvo experts for their suggestions. My brick is safely up on jackstands with the front tires securely chocked.

I did my rear brakes too (along with rear shocks and springs).

Best method is chock the front tires and then place the jack under the rear differential and jack it up. Then place the jack stands at the designated jacking points in front of the rear tires. This frees up the entire rear end allows you to raise and lower the rear differential and suspension with your floor jack, which is a necessity if you're planning on doing any shock or spring work.

I don't disagree with previous replies, but when working on rear brakes, I like more headroom.

So I put the jackstands under the rocker just ahead of the jack points, using piece of 2x4 to spread the load.

This lets the rear end hang lower for better brake access, and is the point shown in the early Haynes manual and Volvo 240 rear axle green book.

I don't like loading weight on the under-axle exhaust pipe. But that happens with a roadside tire change, so I guess it's OK.
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Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.

I prefer jacking the axle as you described and setting it back down on the jack stands positioned at the rear jacking points/pins. Don makes a very good point ... do chock the front wheels with a couple of bricks (building, not driving variety) or 2x4 trim pieces ... to keep it from rolling. Once you lift the rear wheels the E brake ... and drive line lock no longer will keep your Brick from rolling. Hope you have some BP B'laster to help with the job. Good luck and be careful.

Personally, I jack the car up and position the safety stands under the trailing arms near the sway bar attachment.

But that's just me.... Others probably do it differently...

Good idea to chock the front wheels so the car can't roll.

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Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)