Brake disk brand

[Alpine]

Is there a recommended non-Volvo brake disk brand, or am I better sticking with Volvo's own?

Is it an easy job to change them myself?

[Dippydog]

Don't know about brand as it's a lot of years since I last bought any[and they weren't for a Volvo]perhaps check out prices and depending on budget go from there?Obviously you don't want to be buying anything ridiculously cheap.As for changing them the fronts are really easy while the rears are a little more involved as the handbrake shoes operate inside the central hub of the disc so the shoes will need "backing off" slightly,but still a pretty easy swap.Altogether a simple job easily done on the driveway-or depending on traffic flow for your own safety-at the side of the road at home.

[volvoid]

as above.
Shop around. Use evilbuy etc to find the cheapest make youve heard of. This year I've bought Mintex and EBC; the latter made in England keeping people in jobs, top quality and worth the extra £2.
Ring FRF volvo to get a price for the real thing.

[Ninjabob81]

Hi mate, I’m running Pagid all round on mine and can vouch for them, even the coating on the non friction parts of the disc holds up well and still looks smart after many miles. Available from Euro carparts.

[Alpine]

Many thanks all, I'll look at Pagid.

How easy is easy? It's the front brakes. I can do a service but never done brakes. What's involved and does anything need bleeding?

[Dippydog]

The obvious start point is jack up and support the car[loosening the wheel bolts slightly first]and remove wheel-I'm sure you know that bit anyway.Unbolt and remove brake caliper from its carrier[use a tie wrap/piece of wire/piece of string to hang caliper from road spring so as not to strain brake hose.There should be[but this may be missing]a bolt type thing holding the disc to the hub remove this and the disc should simply pull off with little to no effort-I think it should come off without removing caliper carrier,but it's only two extra bolts to undo if not.Before replacing disc make sure hub mating surfaces are clean so the disc sits flat and remove grease/oil type coating from new disc,brake cleaner/WD40 and a cloth will do this.Push brake piston back into caliper[some remove the fluid reservoir cap for this bit]a proper wind back tool can be used for this or a G-clamp and one of the old pads is just as effective.The front pads differ from each other in that one has a spring clip on the back which fits into the piston while the other[outer pad]has no such clip.Don't forget to "pump up" the brake pedal before driving.No bleeding should be needed.It's nearly as quick to do the job as it is for me to have typed this

[Alpine]

many thanks, very helpful. It sounds easy enough, will try to give it a go.

[DSK]

I use Volvo or Brembo, both work superbly. I used to use Pagid again without issue but their quality has dropped over the years so stopped buying them.

[Simmy]

Originally Posted by Alpine

Is there a recommended non-Volvo brake disk brand, or am I better sticking with Volvo's own?

Is it an easy job to change them myself?

I use BREMBO from euro car parts atop quality part at reasonable prices .ferrari use them so good enough for volvos

[Austin160]

Sorry to contradict, but never (should be in caps.) use WD40 to 'degrease' the new brake discs. Only use brake cleaner.

Re. Retracting pistons:- Only use a G clamp if the pistons are non-wind-back type.
If they are wind back then they have to be wound back with the correct tool or- less suitable- some sort of adaptation of the correct tool.