Brake pad minimum thickness

[barrysharp]

My service dept tells me that Volvo recommends (across all model lines) that front pads be replaced when remaining front pad thickness is at or below 3mm and for rears if at 2 mm or below.

As a sanity check I'd like to know what other forum members have heard from their service depts and what your comments are on this Volvo recommendation.

Thanks in advance.

[Art]

Barry,

I was also given the same recommendations from my service advisor. At the time of the XC's 48,000 km service interval, 6mm were remaining on the front pads and 8mm on the rear. Would be interesting to see how my brake wear compares with other members' cars. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[barrysharp]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Art @ May 22 2003,19:13)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Barry,

I was also given the same recommendations from my service advisor. At the time of the XC&#39;s 48,000 km service interval, 6mm were remaining on the front pads and 8mm on the rear. Would be interesting to see how my brake wear compares with other members&#39; cars. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
My S80 T6&#39;s front pad were down to 3 mm today with 35K miles http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif &#036;78 for front pads and &#036;85 for labor http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif Ah well -- after all the brakes are VERY important and not worth skimping on IMO. &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

[Hiro's XC]

Yuo guys are lucky if on these cars you can get away with JUST pads. EVERY other European car I have had required new rotors at pad time. Either because they would warp or the rotor would be under minimum spec by the time the second set of pads was worn out. Personally Like I said in another post I would change the pads at 6-8MM They get thin and a real hard panic stop COULD cause them to break up from the heat. Now, these are top quality pads and not the &#036;9.95 napa specials but why take a chance. Just like tires. I don&#39;t recall the last time I wore a set of them to anything close 5/64ths before replacement. Too much hydroplaneing risk.

[The Volvonator]

if volvo recommends to replace pads at 3mm front and 2mm rear, why not run them down to that point. &nbsp;no sense in replacing them at 6-8mm unless volvo recommended. &nbsp;if rotors warp in 4ry 50k mile range then they are defective and can be replaced under the factory warranty. &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Hiro's XC]

Not to throw stones.....but if someone jumps off a bridge would you do it? There is a thing called safety. 2-3mm is good for about 2-4 hard stops and or 300-1200 miles depending on your traffic scenario. Why risk it? What if something came up? Had to leave town. Who needs to worry, awwwhhh darn, I have to get the brakes done first. They are simple to see. You can see the pads through the rotors, you should check them every 2-3K at least. Plus if the rotors are worn the piston in the calipers if overextended and there is the leverage issue and you cannot get full braking ability. I raced for many years. BTDT.

Jason

[The Volvonator]

since you are or used to be a racer not a math mathematician i believe you meant to say 5/32nds on tires not 64ths. &nbsp; http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Hiro's XC]

You are correct. Sorry about that, We have a building project going on here and I have been working in the real small increments all weekend.

Jason

[xcny]

I think I replaced the front pads at around 20,000 miles, but its hard NYC driving. The remaining pads had about 2 mm left.