Volvo Maintenance Hints for 7xx/9xx - Bill Garland's Nuclear ...

[Tip by Guid] Take special note, if you determine that you have
Bendix calipers on your pre-1987 700, whether the two-piece
hub/rotor conversion was performed on your car. When I bought
my '86 (used), it had been converted. If so, you'll have to order
pads for an '88+ to fit.
The quick way to tell the difference: if you have the one-piece
(original '86) design, your pads will have flat tabs at the top
(REPCO 536 picture below). If you have the converted ('88+)
design, the pads will have the added spring pins (REPCO 1169
picture below).
Caliper Piston Size Stamping (40mm)
Rear Calipers:
[Another Inquiry] I'm close to needing rear brake pads on my wife's 90 740. Peeking through the rim, I see
the capital letter "A" in sort of an Italic script, followed by a couple more smaller characters that I can't make
out, cast onto the caliper. Can anyone tell me what kind of brakes they are, given such weak info? Now the
bonus point question....what would the Volvo P/N's be for the pads? (Not that I would necessarily use Volvo
pads. [Response: Ted D’Orazio] Your rear calipers are ATE. The p/n for the rear pad set is 271824. [Editor]
Note that the rear calipers came with three piston sizes: 36mm, 38mm and 40mm, stamped on the caliper-
see the photo. Replace with the identical size. Often the markings are obliterated due to rust or mechanical
damage. You can measure the diameter of the piston when the pads are removed or measure the imprint on
the back of the steel shim plate. Wagons generally use 40mm pistons.
Brake Pad Identification.
[Inquiry:] When I went to get a set of front disc brake pads for my 740t there were two types listed. Does
anyone know which type I would need or how to tell Bendix from Girling? [Response: JohnB] The Bendix
pads have two tabs on the outer edge of the backing plate, some versions quite large, about 3/8 in by 3/16 in
with a round cylinder welded/brazed on each tab, others with two vestigial nubs....both types come with
slightly different anti-vibration springs so don't mix them. The Girling pads have a single big tab with a post
on it and the anti-vibration spring wound around the post. Rotor size matters....the 11.25 in rotor works on
Girling and Bendix brakes with separate rotor/hub. Make sure you know what hub/rotor you have. Finally,
your minimum permissable pad thickness, when you are checking pads, is 3 millimeters per Volvo specs for
the front pads and 2 millimeters for the rear.
Here is a visual guide to brake pads used in various caliper configurations in 700/900 cars, courtesy of RPR
where each pad set can be ordered on-line.
Front Pads:
REPCO 536 rep_536.gif (3721 bytes)
700 w/ Bendix -87 original front.
Volvo supercedes 83-87 Bendix
pads to 88- Bendix pads. Order
REPCO 1169 further down the
page and update kit 3516813