Hi Gary

Thanks for the response.  Indeed, I too wonder if the shims/lubricant
were not actually overlooked when the pads were installed.

But alas - I don't have the shims myself.  So, replacing the pads AND
getting them installed correctly is on my agenda.

Thanks again.

Allan

... and Gary Heston spake, saying:

I've got PBR pads (bitting against Zimmerman cross-drilled rotors) on my
Golf TDI, and the braking in general and in rain is better then our other
Golf (a 2.0L with stock VW parts) and the Volvo (a 960 with Volvo original
replacement parts - new front rotors and pads, original rear rotors and new
pads)... I found in the rain the Volvo stopped roughly the same, but the
VW's both had a delay with factory equipment - I would say it's my drilled
rotors allowing water to drain, but I can't complain about the pads, they
are terrific... tho they might not be the exact same ones in that writeup...
I'm sure PBR makes more then one formulation for its pads.

The PBR pads squealed at low speeds for the first 6 months of ownership
tho - my mechanic told me it was normal, to give them some more good firm
stops because they were still seating with the rotors (he did put on the
quieting grease)

For our Volvo the stock setup worked so well, we just stuck with stock
parts... Pads seem to get changed every 50-60K Kms (we do tow an unbraked
trailer, which I am sure causes some excessive wear) and the front rotors
lasted till 160K Kms, rears are still going strong. - And all original
calipers minus one rear caliper which was leaking.

Thanks very much for that and for the link too.  VERY enlightening!

Indeed, I would prefer original Volvo parts ... if they come in a blue
VOLVO box, I'm happy.   :)

Thing is - as I search the internet I keep finding people selling OEM
Volvo parts, but they also have other brand names on 'em.  Only if they
show close-up pics of them with VOLVO stamped on them and/or show the
actual packaging will I trust that I'm getting true Volvo stuff.

I'm not even sure if my local (Montreal) VLVWORLD.com is selling
original Volvo parts (well - everything else appears to be, but the
brakes I'm not sure of).

Thanks again!

Allan

... and newtovolvo spake, saying:

Hi Bob

I thought it might be the rotors being TOO glazed/smooth ... that's what
it sounds/feels like at the time.  But, I took a look with the methanic
yesterday and they look normal.  Not overly shiny and not at all
mirror-like, but instead perfect!  Just as you'd expect rotors to look.
 So, we decided not to turn them (and of course, they're only 2 months
old ... so that seemed like the right/logical conclusion).

Thanks again, Bob.

Allan

... and bob spake, saying:

I can recommend EBC Red Stuff pads as being very good... extremely fade
resistant and with tremendous bite when stopping at motorway speeds. Also
look at Pagid (they make the pads for Volvo apparently). I don't recomment
EBC 'spotties'  discs as having tried them on two cars so far they have a
habit of causing massive amounts of judder....

I just installed a set of KVR carbon fibre pads on my 760. They are
semi-metallic, and they are terrific so far.

https://www.kvrperformance.com/index.html

cheers

RS