Worrying Brake Problems

Hello All,

Have my 96 850 T5 two weeks, and have a couple of questions.

The first.
When I brake, I get a lot of pedal travel and not a lot of stopping. If I depress the break 'immediately' after the initial depression, I get solid good breaking.
I have had the brake fluid changed and pressure bled, but this made no difference.
I have the car booked in with a 'Brake System Specialist' on Saturday, but wanted all your advice before I go.

This problem makes the car tough to drive in the wet, as you get inconsistent breaking levels!!

Second is:

Does my Traction Control work!!! I appears to make naff all difference if I turn it on or off! Could this be linked to my braking problem

Any help would be much appreciated!

Cheers

Ian

[Dan F]

Hi.

The traction control uses the ABS system to operate, so the fact that your TC and brakes don't appear to be functioning correctly, would point to either the ABS sensors, or more probably, the ABS unit itself.
Have you a check engine light on at all?

Cheers,
Dan.

Dan,

I've no Warning lights showing... I wish there were! Easy to solve that way!

I guess the question on Tracs is "With Tracs turned on, how much loss of traction do you get between 0 & 30 mph with a heavy right foot?"

Would a faulty ABS system produce the problems I'm having?

Ian

Hello Ian,

Don't think I can help a lot with your problem, but I've just switched from a 2.0 20v est to a 97 T5 est, and the brakes seem to bite even quicker and I thought they were good on my last car. The pedal certainly dosen't seem to travel too far.

Out of interest, how do you know if the Tracs is on/off ? I don't have a owners manual until I collect it this weekend (left it at garage) so I'm struggling to work out some of the switches etc.

Also, do you know what the small button on the locking remote does ?

Cheers,

Craig

[Baffler]

Hi All,

Ian, check the thickness of your disc's (rotor's). I believe the front's are 26mm thick new and should be changed when worn to 23mm. Mine are just above 23mm and I have some travel due to this.

Craig,

If you have the same key fob as mine, the small botton is there to activate the panic alarm...if you find yourself in that situation.

[Chris_Rogers]

I had similar problems with mine.

The problem was air in the rear system, the only way I found to remove it was to get someone to pump the brake then stand on the pedal hard. With the pressure on, release the bleed nipple on each of the rear brakes in turn.

It may take a few goes to get the air out.

Another symptom was that braking in reverse was very poor.

[Simon J]

My V70 T5 always had lousy brakes from new. Same sort of symptoms - soft pedal but better bite with second application which I reckon is totally unacceptable with a 240hp motor car. I fitted Black Diamond grooved and drilled discs and Red Stuff pads and they made not a blind bit of difference, apart from a dramatic reduction in brake dust on the front wheels. Finally gave up and accepted them for what they were - terrible!

I really hope it is air!!!

Like I said, I have it booked in with a Brake Specalist on Saturday morning, and I am trying to get my local Volvo dealer (ugh) to confirm that all brake related recalls have be completed on the car....

I don't think I can live with it like this.... I just does not feel safe!

[Simon Linton]

The brakes on the turbo 850s are really not up to the job, but they shouldn't feel unsafe to the extent that you describe.

It may be the rear brakes as suggested elsewhere or the lack of disc material, but the "repeat" cure suggests air or water in the system to me.

Has the car been MOT'd recently? If it has then the brakes are safe no matter how they feel, you just have to get used to a less immediate braking feel.

Many cures have been suggested on this forum and on the Performance forum; the consensus being that the standard brakes are insufficient but the AP cure is very expensive.

I've fitted braided brake lines and change my brake fluid annually which works for me.

TRACS only works up to 25mph and is intended to stop wheelspin from stationary; it works off the switch on the dash which can switch it off - experiment to see if it's making any difference.

Cheers Simon,

As you suggested, the brakes do stop. The only time they are an issue is in the wet. The first time you depress the pedal, things are fine. The second depression, gives you such in increase in brake preformance, it can catch me out...

The discs could be better, but they have plenty of life.

I think that itr will turn out to be air, so I'll try and get it shifted.

As for Tracs. I get no difference on or off from a stand still... She's a bit of a beast!

Ian