240 Brake Caliper Identification

The Volvo 200 Series brake system uses components from different manufacturers. To select the correct brake pads and installation kits, it's important to identify whether your car has Girling or ATE brake calipers.

Front calipers are easiest to tell apart by the brake pad retaining pin design: Girling: Uses hair-pin style retaining pins (bent wire pin). These are most common on the 200 Series. ATE: Uses tube-style retaining pins (straight tubular locking pin). ATE front calipers are considerably rarer.

At the rear, there are structural differences between manufacturers that aid identification: Girling: Very common option, with its own distinctive mounting method and pin design. ATE: Alternative manufacturer whose caliper shape and brake pad attachment method differ from Girling.

Brake pads and installation kits: They are not interchangeable. You must purchase parts specifically designed for your caliper brand.

You can generally swap out a caliper for a different brand, as long as it's designed for the same disc thickness (vented vs. solid disc) and the brake hose fittings match. Tip: If you're unsure, remove one wheel and check how the brake pads are retained—if they're locked by a hair-pin style clip (Girling) or a straight tube pin (ATE).