Front brake recommendations for 480 2.0ES ?

[Ulrikas PA]

The front discs and pads are due for replacement soon on my 1993 2.0 480.

- Volvo OEM front pads and discs are £132
- I've seen some matched Mintex sets for around the £50 mark all in
- I've had EBC in the past on previous cars but don't think they're good value

Two questions:-
- How do I find out what braking system would have been fitted to my car at the factory so I can check what's suitable ? (No ABS, solid discs not vented)
- Does anyone have any recommendations from personal experience ?

Thanks

[B20F]

Try finding ATE, those are the OEM discs and pads and cheaper to get. A more expensive alternative is Brembo. Mintex is the budget alternative, not as good and they wear more quickly. The 2.0i has solid discs front&back doesn't matter abs or non abs, the discs are the same.

[Ulrikas PA]

Thanks for the advice - I guess I'm looking for something between the price of the Volvo dealer and the Mintex then !

With regards to the Brembo, I had seen those listed but I was a bit wary of spending more and them not fitting.

Would you happen to know where I can find out the dimensions etc of the standard 2.0 Volvo/ATE discs so that I can ensure there's a match.

Thanks

[B20F]

Try partsforvolvosonline. They offer different brands. For oem pads and discs click on the Volvo logo, they are a lot cheaper then at the stealers. Good site and good service. The front solid discs&pads are all the same for the 1.7i&2.0i. The dimensions are 260mm and 12mm thickness.
The bolts from the caliper can be a nightmare to get loose. Get yourself good quality tools and prepare for a fight! Also the small screw which retains the disc itself is notorious. This is because the screw is too long so the end sticks out at the back, which cause them to rust solid. I surrendered, went to a DIY garage and let them loosen the bolts for me. On a ramp it's a quick job as you don't have to remove the wheels to access the bolts. That way I could finish the job on my own driveway. Best is to replace the brakefluid while your at it, DOT4 1liter should be sufficient.