08 XC70 Brakes

[october37]

I recently had the front brake discs and pads replaced on my car and even after a couple of hunderd miles to give the new items time to "Bed In", and a full brake fluid change, the brakes are no where as positive when braking as they were before they were replaced. The Brake Pedal is very hard with the engine stopped so its unlikely to be air in the system and pumping the brakes does not help but they go very spongey when the engine is started, and if I brake hard, the brake pedal nearly reaches its full extent, so any ideas anyone before the Volvo Stealer attacks my Credit Card again..


08 xc70 d5 se lux geartronic 208600 miles

[cheshired5]

If the pad/caliper retaining spring isn't fitted correctly, it can give a poor pedal feel so check that first.
Easy enough to pop off and back on correctly if it's wrong.

[Tannaton]

Check they have used genuine parts - you may be able to see the writing on the back of the pads through the wheel.

It shouldn't be a question you have to ask, but I've known main dealers fit cheap chinese "Landsail" tyres before.

[Olaf Els]

When you write 'recently', how recent is that? How many miles have you done since the new discs and pads were fitted? Also was this fault apparent immediately after the work was done or has it got worse since?

Depending on your answers to the above, if appropriate I'd take it back to whoever supplied and fitted the items and tell them you're not satisfied and want it sorted out without further payment. If the pedal is going almost going to the floor, that to me sounds like a potentially dangerous fault that might be of interest to your local Trading Standards.

I certainly wouldn't attempt to rectify faults by removing and refitting springs or any other parts, as the supplier can then claim that you've interfered with them and try to absolve themselves of responsibility.

[october37]

As far as I was led to believe, the new parts were of oem quality and the problem was there as soon as the work was done but I was informed that they should improve with use, but however after some 300 or so miles they are certainly not up to their usual effectiveness. and I also had a new set of front wheel bearings and a right hand shock absorber replaced at the same time. I know the Mechanic who did the work, and am confident it was done properly.

[Olaf Els]

Do you think that during the 300 miles you've driven the new brakes have been bedded in? See https://www.ferodo.co.uk/blog/give-brakes-a-break.html

If they have bedded in, you need to establish what (if anything) is wrong and whether or not it's related to the fitment of the new brake parts.

So my thoughts are:

1. Inform the mechanic that you're not happy with the brakes and give him the opportunity to rectify it before going elsewhere. I'd do my best to stay on good relations and approach it accordingly.

2. If that doesn't bring about a resolution, take the car somewhere for a second opinion. An independent Volvo specialist would be ideal if there's one nearby. Another idea might be to take it to an MOT test centre and have the car put on a roller brake tester. If you go to a Volvo dealer, they might simply throw their hands up at the use of non-Volvo parts and fit Volvo parts as a first response.

i hope you managed to get this resolved. It's very annoying to have new parts fitted only to find they perform worse than what was taken off.

[october37]

The new pads dont seem as large as the old ones but still engage with three quarters of the discs, not all but 20cm like the old ones, Im now wondering if the pads are the correct ones as im led to believe that XC70s have larger discs than the V70s. Therefore is it possible I was sold the wrong brake pads but the right discs.

08XC70d5 se lux Geartronic

[Tatsfield]

Smaller pads would account for inferior stopping power. These pads do not sound like the genuine article. You need to find the part number of the replacement pads from Volvo and buy them, probably from Volvo. Brakes are not something on which you should worry unduly about saving small sums of money as your life might depend upon them. Also even pads which look like the originals are not necessarily the same. Much of the research which produces a pad that is optimum for stopping the car is carried out on the pad material and you won't see what is different just by looking at its dimensions. Copyists just don't do that sort of research.

[ferg55]

Your symptoms suggest a fundamental problem with the braking system, rather than poor choice of parts (although I agree with all the comments regarding use of genuine brake parts). I would get the system checked out before anything else.

[Tatsfield]

Just re-read the OP and see that the discs were also changed and the fluid changed. I'm sorry I missed that from only reading later posts. Could there be air in the lines which has not been bled out?