brake pedal question

It seems like my brake pedal is a bit tough. I will have step really hard to slow down the vehicle as compared with other SUV's. My little accident would have been prevented if it is softer to pump the pedal. BTW, the BAS did not activate when I step on the brake to prevent the accident, is this a problem? When should BAS activate?

I have never noticed it hard to push on the brake. BAS as I understand it will activate on a rapid hard brake application, apparently it measures the speed of the pedal depression

All MB cars, particularly the S-class actually, have a nice and progressive long travel pedal, compared to other makes which have far more sensitive pedals. This is good and bad depending on how you look at it.<br> <br> As for Brake Assist, you must hit the pedal with a certain speed and pressure. MB did a lot of testing before programming the values into the BAS computer, so the system is usually 95% accurate in determining a panic stop. I recently activated it when a car cut into my lane and I needed to slow down very rapidly.

The ML has a designing flaw in their brake system. You may have noticed that these vehicles will go through brake pads at an unusually fast rate. The main problem is due to the surface area of the brake pad to weight ratio. If these pads were larger in size the ability to slow the vehicle with less pedal pressure would be achieved. Aftermarket pads, rotors and calipers are available and can make this SUV stop on top of its emblem. Other vehicles that suffer from this are the new S class, the post 90 Nissan 300 ZXs and the 1 ton dually GM trucks (to name a few). If the surface area of the pads were larger it would require less force to bring a vehicle of nearly 5000 pounds to a stop. I believe Brembo has the parts necessary to change out the system.

the braking system can do its job. I know this sounds strange but it works quite well. I have not had any problems with pedal feel or stopping ability.

Just being bored in traffic on the way home from work, I pressed the brake pedal really fast, but not very far, stopping about 1/3 through. To my surprise, the car brakes as if the pedal was on the floor!! I guess this is the whole point. If four some reason you brake quickly, but do not apply full pressure/extension on the brake pedal, the BAS takes over. But I agree, it seems that the ML brakes are a little small for such a heavy vehicle. I have a 2000 ML 320, I hear that the newer models have larger brakes, and maybe this saves the problem.

If the ML 320 were modified properly, this vehicle should be able to stop at least 50 feet shorter. I think that the vehicle does a reasonable job, but this is at the cost of brake pads. These vehicles go through brake pads at a rate much faster than vehicles of similiar weight and size. One area to improve brake efficiency would be to replace the rubber brake lines with stainless steel braided lines. This can be done by most people. This will improve brake fade and shorten stopping distances.