11 replies to this topic

[own6volvos]

Car: 1996 855 GLT 2.4

Front pads and rotors replaced last winter

Odd sounds of vibrations and freight train horn type sounds from the rear, cooking brake front right (smoking something fierce), and really different temps between each rotor.

After a 30 mile trip, this was the temp layout of each side for the rotor and caliper. Outside temp is 45F

Drivers Front:

Rotor: 190F
Caliper: 160-170

Drivers Rear:

Rotor: 68F
Caliper: 60F

Passenger Front

Rotor: 560F+ (my IR gun says "---")
Calper: 480F

Passenger Rear

Rotor: 280F
Caliper: 240F



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Now the brake that was super hot was smoking something fierce and smelled horrible. I took it apart, piston retracted just fine, and I regreased the sliders and all that jazz. Pads have tons of meat left on them, and the paint is COOKED off. Rotor has a lovely blue/gold tint to it from the heat. Not really sure why that side is working so much harder. Front Brake lines were replaced 2 weeks ago thinking one was leaking and causing the smoke.

Rear (hot side) is making odd vibrations, still showing normal wear and nothing out of the ordinary visual wise. Pad thickness is a bit thinner than the fronts, but they were also replaced longer ago. Still showing 10-20k left on them

So basically passenger side seems to be overworking, and drivers side is kinda normal front, and rear doesn't seem to do anything at all. During all of this braking power is still *VERY* good, with no sign of fade. I think the only thing keeping back the flames of hell is the ATE Super Blue fluid and the pads being Metal Masters.

Outside of replacing every caliper with rebuilt, and replacing the rear lines as well, what could cause these issues? Is there any sort of differential valve in the 850 brake system? What is causing my grief?

[beaveralpha]

Sounds like you should call up CJ and order the bbk upgrade! My driver front caliper was making the same sounds before the upgrade. I knew I needed new pads and rotors, but in the end when the original caliper was off the car, I saw the rubber seal over the piston coming off and other signs of age. Cheers.

[own6volvos]

Sounds like you should call up CJ and order the bbk upgrade! My driver front caliper was making the same sounds before the upgrade. I knew I needed new pads and rotors, but in the end when the original caliper was off the car, I saw the rubber seal over the piston coming off and other signs of age. Cheers.

Redoing every corner with new brembo rotors, rebuilt calipers, and new pads is going to run about 430 after core fees are refunded. How much is the bbk upgrade? And will they clear 15 alloys?

[beaveralpha]

Redoing every corner with new brembo rotors, rebuilt calipers, and new pads is going to run about 430 after core fees are refunded. How much is the bbk upgrade? And will they clear 15 alloys?

bbk is an expensiver fix... 15" = NO

But if you got to fix it, might as well upgrade to the new standards in braking... Increasing Volvo safety and your ability to out run a mustang in some twisties.

AND the front calipers say "PORSCHE" is really cool big white lettering on the BIG RED CALIPERS.
How cool is that! I stopped from 60 to 0 in like lightning fast speeds, might I suggest also installing SS brake lines at the same time.

[own6volvos]

I am made of pure solid gold

My dad is a stingy bastard and won't spring for something like that for my mom's car.

[kenk]

This has never been a issue on my 850, but had a similar problem on other cars.

try replacing the hardware, the ruber boot things, and cleaning out the pins and greasing them so theythe slide smooth, and mounting clips if bent cant cause the pads to bind. Off the top of my head without looking I cant remember what the hardware is like, but replace what you can, it should be cheap. Ive had calipers I swore needed replacement on non volvos and hardware/pins totally did the trick.

The vibration in the rear, mabye a warped rotor? I have relatively recent rear rotors that warped on my 850 :-(... just guessing but is it possible its warped just enough so it rubs and heats up?


there is also a funky bleed sequence, check maintenace... though it doesnt sound like thats your issue.

oh and make sure the parking break isnt dragging on that rear side, that contacts the inner part of the rotor, and could heat up... and you would not see anything outside.

hopefully something in there will at least help.
~kk

[prasamin]

bleed the brakes, check seals, retraction of each caliper.....check ABS codes.

[beaveralpha]

My dad is a stingy bastard and won't spring for something like that for my mom's car.

own6volvos - mmmm, you must be made of gold too... Sell an organ and hook up the ride for mommy, show your love. Besides she'll get so much props for the sweet set up.

[CRK]

my guess would be to check the wheel bearings also.. who did the brake job the last time?

[own6volvos]

my guess would be to check the wheel bearings also.. who did the brake job the last time?

I replaced the front pads and rotors about a year ago winter. Everything was cleaned and lubed up, and the "hardware" consisting of the spring clips were replaced.

[KLS]

I think you'll need rebuilt calipers, new fluid, new pads, and likely new rotors, at least for the one that cooked.


Ken

[own6volvos]

I think you'll need rebuilt calipers, new fluid, new pads, and likely new rotors, at least for the one that cooked.
Ken

Took apart the rear passenger one (groaning/moaning/hot one), and found that the pistons compress by fingertouch, but it was the damned pads that were basically locked into the caliper tracks. I need a hammer to remove the damned thing.

I installed some new metalmasters that I had laying around on that side, cleaned everything with a dremel and slathered on the grease. Pads now move freely, pins are decent (need to get some new ones), and driving around its much nicer now. Finally the thing doesn't sound like a frieght train horn coming up to stops