Brake pads OEM Volvo or GALFER
Galfer pads and rotors. I'm 210lb and can confidently slow down with rival flat mounts and 160mm rotors
Galfer pro pads are the best ones I have ever used. They have more power, maybe same amount of modulation as shimano ones, they seem to resist fade better amd have ok life span.
Who the hell told you the C30 is unreliable. My mechanic started his own shop after working for the big regional volvo dealership for 15 years. He told me that of all the Volvos he ever worked on the C30 stood out significantly as being the most reliable. It was built on the P2 chassis, but since it came out years after the first P2 chassis cars, it was able to have a lot of significant improvements/upgrades/fixes over the other, older P2 cars. He told me that over time the mechanics would get so frustrated whenever a C30 came in, because every single time all it would need was a basic oil change or brake pad replacement, never any major work.
1st step, better pads for more initial bite and overall stopping power. Galfer HH can be had for $80 front and rear, you can spend a lot more on performance/track pads if you want the best.
Pal has Volvo brakes on his bmw E10.
I'd also replace the brake pads with ceramic (same/less cost than OEM) as they stop better and shed very little brake dust unlike the OEM Volvo units.
I have 2005 S60 Turbo as a daily. Bought it brand new in 2005 and she now has 157,000 trouble-free miles. However, being a European car, replacement items can be pretty expensive. I've replaced: brakes and rotors ($1,200).
My only problem with it is the turning radius. The brakes aren't what they should be IMO for triple digit speeds but it is rare I drove at such speed being located in the USA.
Bought my gf a 96 850 turbo meticulously maintained, odo is broken at 312, car should be neering 500k, doesnt burn leak anything, drive amazing on the high and returns 21.3 mpg, only think i dont like about it is no off the line grunt and the brakes arent the best.
I just switched from OEM (Brembo HH Sintered, I think) pads to Galfer HH Sintered pads. I forgot to scotchbrite the discs and I think I glazed everything up during bedding-in process. I used scotchbrite like mad on the discs and sanded the pads with 220 grit until they were dull like when new, but the brakes seem to have the same behavior - heavy brakes test after 10 mile bed-in ride, the brakes plateau without getting to ABS trigger unless I squeeze like a motherfucker. The previous pads I could stand up on the front wheel with one or two fingers, so I feel like I've done something wrong.
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