Jim Grant's Tech Tips

89 Volvo 740, Wild Brakes
Q: I have an ‘89 740 Volvo. My problem is that when I brake hard I lose control of the car. I had my mechanic check the brakes and replace pads all the way around. At the same time he checked the calipers and said they are okay. He bled the brake system too, no luck !!!!!! The car still pulls left or right and fish tails. Now the mechanic says to change the master cylinder!!!!....Majid

A:What would you think if I were to tell you that your problem may not be brake related at all? Volvos are known for their ride quality. To achieve this ride quality requires the use of rubber bushings in the steering and suspension. With age these bushings get tired and worn and when this happens the steering and suspension can create strange handling problems. A problem that only gets worse when the brakes are applied. If the steering and suspension bushings are worn the alignment of the vehicle will change as the vehicle is being driven. When the brakes are applied these worn bushings can cause dramatic changes that make things get interesting fast. I would suggest a closer inspection of the vehicle steering and suspension components before guessing what braking component to replace next.