GL Class (X166) 2013-2015 after facelift became GLS (X166)

Difference in breaks in current GL vs previous generation

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Old Sep 30, 2013 | 02:06 PM
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AMG GT R and GLS 450
Difference in brakes in current GL vs previous generation

My wife doesn't like the feel of the brakes on our 14 GL vs our 09. She says the brake pedal travels further and requires much more force to stop the car. I have also noticed a difference. Anyone else have the same thoughts? Maybe it's due to the pre-safe function?

Last edited by octurbo; Sep 30, 2013 at 04:52 PM.
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Old Sep 30, 2013 | 09:17 PM
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Interesting, I thought I felt that as well. I hadn't driven my 2007 GL for a few months before getting my 2013 so I figured it was just my imagination. Maybe my thoughts were accurate. It doesn't really bother me, but I do catch myself thinking it takes longer to brake the big boy.

Blittle, Wamochi, Waiting_for_gl550, etc what are your thoughts?
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Old Oct 1, 2013 | 07:34 AM
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Agreed

I totally agree, and braking has been a big adjustment for me-couple of times my wife thought I would hit the car ahead, but it was me adjusting to pedal travel and feel from my 07, (and the lovely warning chime is new)!

Don't think there's anything wrong, just different.
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Old Oct 1, 2013 | 12:42 PM
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well i went into the dealer w/ my 2011 GL450 and left an hour later with a new 2013 GL550 and i didn't really think anything of it. i think the new 550 felt a little more sensitive, but i didn't notice needing to push the pedal any further to slow down or stop.

so for me it's hard to say ... also, my GL450 felt a little squishy at the time - at 30,000 service they recommended that i get new brake pads and rotors, and i said no to that and decided to take up MB on the early lease termination
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Old Oct 1, 2013 | 04:44 PM
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I have a 13 GL350 and recently rented a 2013 GL450. The GL450 breaks were much better. They cheaped out on the GL350 brakes not providing the ventilated variety as standard eqp.

Having said that the breaks on my GL350 are decent just not nearly as confident as the GL450's
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Old Oct 1, 2013 | 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Otis123
I have a 13 GL350 and recently rented a 2013 GL450. The GL450 breaks were much better. They cheaped out on the GL350 brakes not providing the ventilated variety as standard eqp.

Having said that the breaks on my GL350 are decent just not nearly as confident as the GL450's
Actually all brakes are ventilated. If you are inferring cross drilled versus not it has no bearing on whether or not they receive cooling air flow. Cross drilled might help you with moisture between pads and discs but otherwise those holes can easily fill up with all sorts of stuff.
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Old Oct 1, 2013 | 06:23 PM
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Thanks for correcting my verbiage and adding comment about an apparent draw back to the "cross drilled" brakes.

Regardless, I found the gl450 brakes much more effective than my GL350 brakes.
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Old Oct 1, 2013 | 06:42 PM
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I agree pedal travel is longer than my 08 GL320 vs the 13 GL350
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Old Oct 2, 2013 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Otis123
I have a 13 GL350 and recently rented a 2013 GL450. The GL450 breaks were much better. They cheaped out on the GL350 brakes not providing the ventilated variety as standard eqp.

Having said that the breaks on my GL350 are decent just not nearly as confident as the GL450's
This is interesting. One the my favorite features on my 2009 is how well it stops. After reading Motor Trend's SUV of the Year article I was concerned by MB's decision to use smaller rotors on the front of the 2013 diesel. Motor Trend claims the 350 has 13.8" rotors up front compared to 14.8" rotors on the 450. Perhaps this is some of what people are noticing?

http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/...l/viewall.html
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Old Oct 2, 2013 | 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by 43221B
This is interesting. One the my favorite features on my 2009 is how well it stops. After reading Motor Trend's SUV of the Year article I was concerned by MB's decision to use smaller rotors on the front of the 2013 diesel. Motor Trend claims the 350 has 13.8" rotors up front compared to 14.8" rotors on the 450. Perhaps this is some of what people are noticing?

http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/...l/viewall.html
I have the sport package on mine which comes with the sames brakes as the V8's
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Old Oct 2, 2013 | 10:14 PM
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Originally Posted by cookstar
I have the sport package on mine which comes with the sames brakes as the V8's
I couldn't find anything on MB's website that said the sport package upgraded the brakes on the 350. Could you direct me to the literature that says it upgrades the brakes?

This is what their website lists as the upgrades to the 350.

■AMG Exterior Package
■AMG Styling Package
■Adaptive Damping System (ADS)
■AMG Cladding
■21" AMG Wheels
■Tire Rating
■Aluminum Running Boards
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Old Oct 2, 2013 | 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by BlownV8
I couldn't find anything on MB's website that said the sport package upgraded the brakes on the 350. Could you direct me to the literature that says it upgrades the brakes?

This is what their website lists as the upgrades to the 350.

■AMG Exterior Package
■AMG Styling Package
■Adaptive Damping System (ADS)
■AMG Cladding
■21" AMG Wheels
■Tire Rating
■Aluminum Running Boards
I cant recall where I found out but the regular GL350 comes with solid disk brakes, the sport package adds the perforated brakes which are also a bit bigger and have the MB logo on them.
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Old Oct 2, 2013 | 10:50 PM
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According to MBUSA:

GL350: 4-wheel disc, including internally ventilated front discs.
GL550: 4-wheel disc, including perforated and internally ventilated front discs with 4-piston calipers. (this is what I have on my 350)

Also note that the 2014's no longer come with rear perforated brakes on 350,450 and 550.
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Old Oct 2, 2013 | 11:01 PM
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Just to evaluate the brakes, i did a full abs stop from around 40 mph and my 350 GL came to stop quickly. The performance of the brakes seem fine- just have to get used to the feel of the brake pedal.
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Old Oct 3, 2013 | 08:30 AM
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Upon first use..... I noticed a difference in feel on my 13 GL450 as opposed to my previous GL's. Now....7 months into ownership, all seems "normal", whatever that is,and I have complete faith in the brakes!
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Old Oct 3, 2013 | 09:48 AM
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I agree, I think the brake ability is fine, just different from previous generations.
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Old Oct 3, 2013 | 08:31 PM
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Did they move to a ceramic pad? I noticed a difference in initial bite when I switched to ceramic.
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Old Oct 3, 2013 | 09:19 PM
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Hey blownv8! I saw in another thread you were planning another 100,000 miles on your 2007. Time to make the jump to the X166. Beautiful upgrade from the X164.
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