Does anyone know what is the plate or the whole assembly behind the brake rotors is called? - Benzworld.org

msiumng · 10-14-2005, 02:04 AM

Hi everyone:

I am looking to upgrade the brakes on my ML350 to the 4-piston ones on the ML55. I got the calipers already but however they woudn't fit on. I checked with a ML500 few days ago and I saw that the thing behind the rotors is different from the one on my car. Does anyone know wht it is call or where to get them? Have anyone here tried that before? Thanks a lot for all your helps!

Darkmann · 10-14-2005, 07:42 AM

you can upgrade the brakes with some realy good aftermarket ones, but to swap for a 55 set, you may have to replace the entire wheel hub - the part behind the whole assembly is the wheel hub. Pretty expensive to buy and to replace. The replacement is "simply" a bolt on but some very critical stuff will have to be taken out, including the all wheel drive stuff and some suspension stuff!!! Then you'll have to get larger rims for the new brakes to fit, readjust and realign the whole thing. Why are you doing this anyway???

rudeney · 10-14-2005, 03:46 PM

Technically, that part is called a "steering knuckle". The â€œhubâ€? is actually just the part on the end of the axle that the lug bolts screw into.

msiumng · 10-14-2005, 09:17 PM

thanks a lot everyone I know that sounds very complicated I guess I will just let it go I got those 4 piston capliers very cheap anyways so it sounds that is not worth to put such an effort to upgrade it.... however can anyone suggest a good aftermarket brake upgrade that will fit my car without replaceing the hub or suspension parts? Thanks a lot!

Darkmann · 10-15-2005, 07:01 PM

msiumng, do a web search on ML brakes. You will find what you're looking for. Try Brembo, or other high performance shops for starters. If I find anything I'll send it your way. Again, why are you doing this? The 320's brakes are very adequate. For looks??? Experimenting??? It's not a cheap venture!!!

msiumng · 10-26-2005, 01:08 AM

I do know that it is a pretty big job to do something like this and pretty expensive but I donno if anyone has problem like my ML that I really feel the breaks on my ML is extremly under power and often need to press very hard because of a very strong "reaction" from the peddle"..I really don't know much about breaks but I just thought that maybe a new brake system would help..=D

rudeney · 10-26-2005, 09:19 AM

The brakes on most European cars, and especially on the W163, generally feel a bit â€œmushyâ€? at the top end. It does take a bit more force than what you expect for hard braking, and Iâ€™m not sure that even upgrading the brake components at the wheel will change that. Iâ€™ve always assumed it is something in the valves of the hydraulics that makes them that way.

I will say that the newer MBZ models have a much more firm feeling. In fact, the first W164 I drove was so â€œtouchyâ€?, it was shcokcing.

marcelc · 10-26-2005, 09:42 AM

Quote:

msiumng - 10/26/2005 8:08 AM
I do know that it is a pretty big job to do something like this and pretty expensive but I donno if anyone has problem like my ML that I really feel the breaks on my ML is extremly under power and often need to press very hard because of a very strong "reaction" from the peddle"..I really don't know much about breaks but I just thought that maybe a new brake system would help..=D

If I may add my twopenny worth here - yes, the brakes could be described as mushy, however, I prefer them like that because I can 'dose' the braking effort much more precisely than with the 'brick' like feel of many other cars. This characteristic is especially helpful when off-road or on slippery surfaces.

I usually use my left foot for braking, in spite of the fact I sometimes drive other cars with clutches, and I find the extra 'feel' of the ML desirable.

If the brakes get extra mushy, I find that pressing the foot brake quite hard for about 30 seconds, whilst in neutral with the motor running, 'readjusts' them.

I don't consider the brakes underpowered, I can do repeated emergency braking from 100mph in an impressively short distance for such a heavy vehicle and without fading - which is why I am not concerned about the mushy feel.

I have test driven the W164 and the brakes are more like the conventional brick, I suppose it is a case of horses for courses.