2021 E450 wagon brake travel and feel...regenerative?
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Joined: Nov 2014
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From: New York, NY
2021 Mercedes Benz e450 Wagon
2021 E450 wagon brake travel and feel...recuperative?
Hey guys,
I commented in another thread on the 2021 e450 wagon all terrain (AT) but thought that the brakes deserved their own thread.
Basically, the feel of the brakes just doesn't compare to my old 2019 e450 wagon. When first receiving the AT, I took it straight on for service complaining about a mushy, soft feel and long travel (1 or 2 inches) before the brake pads finally felt like they squeezed the rotors. The service tech bleed the brakes, tested them with smoke for leaks, and said all was well. On driving it again, the problem is modestly improved but still much less assertive and linear than the old wagon.
However, then I read a couple articles about the new E class mild hybrid 48V system. Could it be that the brakes are recuperative? In other words, does the first couple inches of pressing the brake regenerate the battery and then only after pressing a bit more or then initiates the actual calipers? Is I push harder through the stroke, the AT's brakes do feel mildly more like my old wagon.
I've yet to test drive another e450 to test my theory but wondered what you all thought of this hypothesis and if anyone had a personal experience mirroring my own.
Thanks.
I commented in another thread on the 2021 e450 wagon all terrain (AT) but thought that the brakes deserved their own thread.
Basically, the feel of the brakes just doesn't compare to my old 2019 e450 wagon. When first receiving the AT, I took it straight on for service complaining about a mushy, soft feel and long travel (1 or 2 inches) before the brake pads finally felt like they squeezed the rotors. The service tech bleed the brakes, tested them with smoke for leaks, and said all was well. On driving it again, the problem is modestly improved but still much less assertive and linear than the old wagon.
However, then I read a couple articles about the new E class mild hybrid 48V system. Could it be that the brakes are recuperative? In other words, does the first couple inches of pressing the brake regenerate the battery and then only after pressing a bit more or then initiates the actual calipers? Is I push harder through the stroke, the AT's brakes do feel mildly more like my old wagon.
I've yet to test drive another e450 to test my theory but wondered what you all thought of this hypothesis and if anyone had a personal experience mirroring my own.
Thanks.
Last edited by nycebo; Jun 7, 2021 at 07:18 AM.
