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C70 Disks & Pads - Cheap or Not?

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Old Jul 4th, 2018, 23:13   #1
Jonathank
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Default C70 Disks & Pads - Cheap or Not?

Hi All,

Sorry to trouble again but as part of my upgrading plan i’m Now looking at discs and pads. I’ve read a few threads including one suggesting Volvo dealerships might be a good bet but my questions are 1. Who was the OEM supplier to Volvo? 2. If you look at ECP or CP4L sites the cost difference between the cheapest and Bosch or Brembo is around £16 a pair and maybe a tenner for pads. £26 additional cost to get the best brands doesn’t seem much PROVIDED they offer better quality.

I’ve always thought of Brembo as top notch products. What do you think and are their discs and pads worth the extra?

Thanks.
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Old Jul 5th, 2018, 04:07   #2
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Volvo OEM are ATE. My experience of aftermarket pads is that invariably they rattle, especially the rears. For discs go with what you like but I'd certainly recommend Volvo pads.
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Old Jul 5th, 2018, 08:52   #3
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As mentioned above, almost all people that come into dealers complaining of brake noises/issues are running non gen brake pads.

I'm all for saving money using after market but it's just not worth it with brake parts. They don't last as long, don't work as well and in the long run cost more.

Give ELK performance a message and see what he can do them for, then just get your local to fit them if you're not confident doing them yourself.
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Old Jul 9th, 2018, 13:39   #4
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just FYI, I disagree with the above. Although I have heard of "rattle" issues and complaints, but mostly based on getting lesser quality brand stuff, I have not heard of anyone complaining after getting a respected brand parts. Me included. Brembo coated discs on all 4 wheels, brembo rear pads (standard, nothing fancy) and ATE ceramic on front. Whole setup was 3x cheaper than OEM stuff and I have not had a single rattle ever since.
Quality - yes, but sometimes I find it pointless to pay extra for the same part just because it has VOLVO brand on it.
just my 2 c :}
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Old Jul 9th, 2018, 17:01   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LizardOfBodom View Post
Quality - yes, but sometimes I find it pointless to pay extra for the same part just because it has VOLVO brand on it.
just my 2 c :}
Your logic doesn't often work like this.

Just because an OEM makes a product for a car themselves, doesn't mean it's the same specification or quality as the part Volvo specify them to make for production.

For example I know for a fact on my older S40 T4 Bosch made the pads for Volvo, BUT if you got the Volvo pads and the Bosch pads and put them side by side, they were quite obviously different and certainly behaved differently when fitted.

Bosch also made the spark plugs for that car but they ran like crap after a while, put gen Volvo plugs in and it runs spot on with no issues, in fact Volvo plugs are the only plugs that ran well on that particular engine, reported by many, myself included.

I have a family member who's a master tech at Volvo, 30+ years, when I first got my Volvo and asked about after market to save money he told me almost every customer coming in complaining of brake noise/crap brakes is running cheap none gen. The after market ones may be OK for general use, but can be different materials, emit more brake dust, suffer heat fade quicker when in use etc...

Each to their own though, I'm sure some of them are OK
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Old Jul 9th, 2018, 17:53   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FunkyMelon View Post
Your logic doesn't often work like this.

...... running cheap none gen. The after market ones may be OK for general use, but can be different materials, emit more brake dust, suffer heat fade quicker when in use etc...

Each to their own though, I'm sure some of them are OK
Yes, see exactly my point - CHEAP NON GEN. I am pretty sure putting jurid/pagid/mintex/whatnot brake pads costing me 13e per set on my 220HP+ car will make me regret the decision after first brake touch, but thats why I specifically mentioned OEM Brand or equivalent. ATE is the manufacturer, you can get ATE discs and pads and I am pretty sure those would work flawlesly. Cant really imagine Brembo set creating any problems. I get what you are saying as for quality (OEM with volvo sticker vs OEM brand) but in most cases its just bull**. Take for example overpriced fuel pressure sensor from Volvo costing you 80e+ and recieving a Bosh unit identical to that one bought online for 30e but with Bosh instead of volvo part number. Or better , OEM waterpump in Volvo box costing 2x more than the same (AISIN brand) waterpump with volvo logo grinded out off the casing! Same can go spark plugs etc... I really think most of this "go genuine" is marketing bull*, but that ofcourse doesnt mean you can settle for inferior product trying to imitate OEM.
u get me? :}
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Old Jul 9th, 2018, 18:04   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LizardOfBodom View Post
Yes, see exactly my point - CHEAP NON GEN. I am pretty sure putting jurid/pagid/mintex/whatnot brake pads costing me 13e per set on my 220HP+ car will make me regret the decision after first brake touch, but thats why I specifically mentioned OEM Brand or equivalent. ATE is the manufacturer, you can get ATE discs and pads and I am pretty sure those would work flawlesly. Cant really imagine Brembo set creating any problems. I get what you are saying as for quality (OEM with volvo sticker vs OEM brand) but in most cases its just bull**. Take for example overpriced fuel pressure sensor from Volvo costing you 80e+ and recieving a Bosh unit identical to that one bought online for 30e but with Bosh instead of volvo part number. Or better , OEM waterpump in Volvo box costing 2x more than the same (AISIN brand) waterpump with volvo logo grinded out off the casing! Same can go spark plugs etc... I really think most of this "go genuine" is marketing bull*, but that ofcourse doesnt mean you can settle for inferior product trying to imitate OEM.
u get me? :}

Oh I agree, what I said above doesn't apply for EVERY sensor/component on a car, there are plenty of drop links and other parts I've used after market for with no problems, but other components it's been well documented that genuine is the best for them.

If you're not buying the cheap cr*p pads/discs and buying the more expensive ones then you're probably not too far off the price of genuine ones?

Often people assume the Volvo stuff will be hundreds (usually the case) and just don't bother looking but occasionally they'll be surprised.
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Old Jul 9th, 2018, 18:34   #8
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If you scan the threads on the bigger Volvo models (XC90, XC/V70 etc.) there is a very common theme - the best quality brake components by far (unless you are looking at competition spec) are exclusively Volvo original parts - no-one else. Non genuine (Mintex, National, Pagid, Blueprint etc.) are much more prone to warping, squealing, strange pedal feel etc.

Volvo cast their own disks for some of their models (mainly P2 platform). Whilst they outsource some production to ATE, TRW and a few others these parts are made to Volvo specification and the contract between the manufacturer and Volvo will specifically prevent that manufacturer from selling the same parts under any other brand name or channel. As you would expect Volvo wish to protect their investment in R&D and give those customers that pay the extra for genuine parts a tangible advantage for doing so.

Some Volvo dealers sell brake parts on e-bay at trade prices, but they are still more expensive that Pagid, Mintex etc. from generic factors. You pay your money and you take your choices....

To the OP - as the C70 is by some margin the heaviest Volvo model on that platform, I personally would pay the extra for genuine discs and pads for the front at least.

As Funky said spark plugs is another good example - Volvo original plugs are by far the most reliable in the older, higher output T5 engines.
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Old Jul 9th, 2018, 21:38   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LizardOfBodom View Post
I have not heard of anyone complaining after getting a respected brand parts.
I fitted EBC brakes once, who I'm pretty sure are a very well respected brake brand) and they were shocking. Pads and discs glazed over, felt dangerous and the rear pads rattled like fury regardless of how I tried to remediate them. Stuck with Volvo OEM ever since on both cars and they've been flawless. Purchased from dealer networks as overstock on eBay they aren't very expensive either.
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Old Jul 9th, 2018, 22:57   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iainmd View Post
I fitted EBC brakes once, who I'm pretty sure are a very well respected brake brand) and they were shocking. Pads and discs glazed over, felt dangerous and the rear pads rattled like fury regardless of how I tried to remediate them. Stuck with Volvo OEM ever since on both cars and they've been flawless. Purchased from dealer networks as overstock on eBay they aren't very expensive either.
Historically EBC were all about marketing to barry boys, if you were extremely generous you could describe the quality as "variable". They were an amateurish setup operating out of a little industrial unit in an industry where perfection is the expectation. Might have changed in the last 5 years but a quick google suggests it's not worth the risk.

I stick with OEM, aftermarket parts seem to have become almost worthlessly crap in the last 10 years and it's not worth the bother of having to fit them twice.
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