How to Change 1995 Volvo 940 Brake Pads

The Volvo 940 was released in 1991 and lived a short life; it was discontinued it after the 1995 model year. The 1995 Volvo 940 came in two body styles -- sedan and station wagon -- and had two engine options: 2.3-liter non-turbo and 2.3-liter turbocharged. Regardless of body style or engine, the procedure for replacing the brake pads is identical. Change the brake pads on your 940 every 25,000 to 35,000 miles, depending on driving style.

Instructions

1

Loosen the lug nuts securing the front wheels to the vehicle, using a ratchet and socket.

2

Raise the front of the Volvo off the ground by placing the jack beneath a secure portion of the vehicle's undercarriage and raising the floor jack.

3

Secure the 940 by placing jack stands beneath the vehicle's frame and lowering the jack until the vehicle's weight is supported only by the jack stands.

4

Remove the front lug nuts and pull the 940's front wheels off.

5

Look on the inner portion of the brake caliper, closest to the engine. Locate the two caliper bolts, one upper and one lower.

6

Loosen the upper bolt with the ratchet and socket, but leave it in the caliper to act as a pivot point. Loosen and remove the lower caliper bolt with the ratchet and socket.

7

Pivot the caliper up, using the upper caliper bolt as the pivot point. Notice the brake pads remain on the brake assembly.

8

Grab the brake pads and pull them from the brake assembly. Take note of how they are positioned prior to removal, as the new pads must be placed in the exact same position.

9

Place the new pads onto the brake assembly, just as the old ones were positioned.

10

Position the 8-inch c-clamp so that the screw portion is contacting the caliper's internal piston -- the cylindrical, metal object inside the caliper -- and the fixed part of the clamp is contacting the rear of the caliper body.

11

Tighten the c-clamp. The caliper piston will begin to press into the caliper. Continue tightening until the top of the caliper piston is flush with the caliper body.

12

Pivot the caliper down and over the new brake pads. Hand-tighten both the upper and lower caliper bolts.

13

Torque the caliper bolts to 20 foot-pounds, using the torque wrench and socket.

14

Place the 940's front wheels back on, and hand-tighten the lug nuts.

15

Raise the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack, remove the jack stands and slowly lower the Volvo to the ground.

16

Torque the lug nuts -- in a star-pattern -- to 95 foot-pounds, using the torque wrench and a socket.

17

Pump the brake pedal by pressing and releasing it until the pedal feels firm. This action presses the caliper piston against the new brake pads.