What is the method for replacing the rear brake pads of a Volvo XC60?
4 Answers
Volvo XC60 rear brake pad replacement method is: 1. Remove the rear wheel; 2. Loosen the brake caliper screws; 3. Remove the brake caliper; 4. Replace with new rear brake pads; 5. Reinstall the brake caliper. Taking the 2021 Zhi Xing Luxury Edition Volvo XC60 as an example, its body dimensions are: length 4688mm, width 1902mm, height 1658mm, wheelbase 2865mm, and trunk capacity 483l. The 2021 Zhi Xing Luxury Edition Volvo XC60 features a double-wishbone independent front suspension and a multi-link independent rear suspension, equipped with a 2.0L turbocharged engine producing maximum horsepower of 190PS, maximum power of 140kW, and maximum torque of 300Nm.
I usually change the brake pads myself, and having the right tools is crucial: a jack, tire wrench, socket set, and brake caliper piston retraction tool are all essential. First, park the car on a level surface, loosen the wheel bolts slightly, lift the car with the jack, and use a safety stand for extra security. Once the tire is off, you can see the caliper. Remove the two guide pin bolts, and the caliper can be moved aside entirely. Then, use a specialized tool to slowly push the piston back—for regular cars, simply pressing it in works, but for the XC60 with an electronic parking brake, you must rotate while pressing to avoid damaging the motor. After removing the old brake pads, clean any rust from the caliper bracket and apply copper-based grease. Apply anti-squeal paste to the contact points of the new brake pads before installation. Reattach the caliper and tighten the bolts to the specified torque. Once the tire is back on and the car is on the ground, pump the brakes a dozen times before driving. On the first drive, remember to brake gently a few times to allow the pads and rotors to bed in properly, or braking performance may be affected. The whole process takes about 40 minutes.
As a mechanic with nearly a decade of experience running an auto repair shop, the key to servicing Volvo rear brake pads lies in handling the electronic parking brake correctly. I always remind my apprentices: Never force the piston back! You must use a diagnostic tool to enter maintenance mode and let the caliper retract automatically, or use a rotating tool with a pressure device. Skipping this step during installation can lead to new pads not fitting properly at best, or motor burnout requiring a full caliper replacement at worst. A few other critical points: Guide pins must be cleaned and re-greased with high-temperature lubricant after removal, caliper brackets need thorough rust removal, and the back of new pads should have anti-noise paste applied to prevent squealing. Always check brake fluid level after installation – when pistons are pushed back, fluid returns to the reservoir and must be drained if exceeding the MAX line. During test drives, first pump the brake pedal to restore travel, then perform 2-3 low-speed brake tests before normal driving. Neglecting these details may result in needing rework within six months.
Remember the last time I helped my neighbor replace the rear brake pads on an XC60, the key was tool preparation. For electronic parking brake models, you need to buy a special brake caliper reset tool—the rotary tool available on Taobao for around 80 RMB will suffice. You can skip the lifting equipment, but two safety stands are a must. The disassembly sequence is crucial: first loosen the wheel bolts but don’t remove them, then jack up the car and take off the wheel. Use a 14mm socket to remove the caliper guide pins, and when rotating the piston pushrod back, maintain horizontal force. New pads must be OEM-matched; aftermarket pads with mismatched friction coefficients can trigger warning lights. After installation, manually rotate the brake disc to check for pad rubbing. Once reassembled, pump the brakes several times while stationary to reset the piston. Finally, remember to clean the iron shavings and brake dust from the wheel hub—it’s highly corrosive. The whole process takes about half an hour, but beginners should allocate two hours.
