Maybe I've got search block on my google fu but having a hard time finding suspension/brake upgrades for the wife's 22 GLE 450 non-Airmatic. Not sure she's needing the suspension, but was disappointed they dropped the brake upgrade from the AMG line option. Car was not ordered though. More brake is always good if you have the tires to support it.

 

I think the only difference in the brakes with the AMG body upgrade was to the rotors that aren’t drilled now…Same pads & 2 piston setup. They will dissipate heat better and maybe run a little cleaner drilled but your wife shouldn’t notice any difference in normal everyday driving. I thought the brakes worked very well on the GLE 450 until I got my GLE 53 with 6 piston calipers.

 

The OE brakes on the car are inadequate in my opinion... granted that comes from both on and off tarmac experience. I also come from an aerospace manufacturing back ground and had been a shop owner who collaborated in a few brake upgrades over the years. So I'm probably a bit biased.

The AMG calipers, pads and rotors (if latter is different) would probably be more than adequate. However I don't know how the proportioning/ABS logic etc are setup nor if the spindles are the same and would accept those calipers as a direct swap. Then there is the fact that the calipers on her car are just plain ugly and look like they came off a Honda Accord.

What happened to the old caliper beauty plates that used to be on the regular Mercedes calipers? At least they looked ok. This is her first Mercedes so experience is limited.

 

Agree. (This is NOT V167 specific, as previous non-AMG W166 models have/had same issues).

If you're going to "upgrade" do not settle for "standard" GLE53's hardware (it is not much better). Instead go for GLE63' hardware (same hardware - calipers/rotors/pads - is on Ron's 53). I however would opt for a bit less expensive, but otherwise the same 6 piston "silver" calipers instead of "red" calipers. Check this link out: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle63s-gl...r-factory.html
The only question remains is the true cost of the upgrade.

 

Interesting, thanks for the link. Her AMG line exterior came with the AMG multispoke 21 inch wheels wrapped in 275/325 (or 315) all seasons. I'd suspect these wheels would have the clearance for the AMG calipers?

As a side note, when I was involved with the Mitsubishi Evolution 8's and getting them over here I found that pads were all that was needed. The US version still came with the Brembo 4 piston fronts and two piston rears. A set of Ferodo DS2500 pads all around made a incredible difference in that system. Not that it was bad to start with, but not good enough. Those pads took it to wholly s h i t for a street pad. Only down side was the pads were about $280-$300 a front set. Worth double that though. I can't help but wonder if the AMG 53 setup would be fine with the right compound?

 

However, I'm sure the 63 system would have more sex appeal not that it matters for us older folks.

 

I'm older and it matters to me! 21s would have plenty of clearance for the "AMG High Performance Braking System." Not sure if it would require a different master cylinder due to more volume, though.

 

GLE450's 21" front offset is 3mm greater than that of GLE53/63. Normally 3mm should not matter, but considering how close MB is specing their wheels for the calipers, who knows if 3mm less distance will come to play with much larger 6 piston calipers.
As far as different master cylinder, when I looked into similar upgrade for W166, MC p/ns were the same for all (do not know for V167). In the thread I linked above, poster who converted standard GLE53 brakes to GLE63 ( and/or GLE53 with ARC option), did not say MC required to be changed.

 

Somewhere in this Forum a British person was making the change to the larger brakes. If my memory is correct he was going to be out $10-12k. That’s a lot to spend to upgrade brakes on the GLE 350/450 that work very well for the everyday driver. There is nothing wrong with the OEM factory brakes, IMO. I had a couple of situations with my 2020 that required hard braking and if one didn’t have their seatbelt fastened the windshield might tap your forehead.

 

I think that figure in the US would be not more than a half +/-. My best guess is $4-6K with around $5K most likely. $4K if parts can be sourced online with discounts and installed by qualified installer other than a dealer or $6K if all is done retail at a dealership. That is only if no other parts other than calipers/rotors/pads are required.

Post #2, last sentence.

 

I think I know what you are saying. It is not uncommon for an OEM AND aftermarket companies to spec their total piston volume near or equal to the OE pistons. This makes it easy not having to "redesign the wheel" or add extra components such as master cylinders/proportioning etc on brake upgrade packages. Same for aftermarket. This just makes sense all the way around from a cost analysis stand point. Then you can use a larger brake pad for more swept area and spread out six smaller pistons for more even pressure piston to pad to rotor. More friction, more heat transfer, "better" stopping.

All jokes aside, that 3mm does concern me. It's also not uncommon for engineering to use up a lot of their "wheel flex" when setting spec for the clearance of bigger braking systems to wheel. Just because something clears statically does not mean it will clear under load when the wheel and spindle flex... and they do, no matter how minute that may be. By that same token, if you create a system that is able to lock the wheel/tire up sooner, how sensitive is the logic in this particular ABS system, and will it cause any unforeseen problems due to tighter and tighter windows of signal error? I mean for **** sake, on my Raptor you have to be careful of tapping wires for lights as resistance/load etc is monitored and doing such can throw a freakin code!

I get what you are saying, but that is extremely subjective. You may have someone like myself who feels anything that can't stop from 60-0 in roughly 100 feet or less is crap! That absolutely does NOT mean it is crap to you or anyone else. My machines performance need only please me and visa versa. I've never owned a vehicle both 2 or 4 wheels that didn't get a brake upgrade of some sort. I've always found them lacking regardless of manufacturer. Arguably, I've also never owned "super" or "hyper" cars either. This is all an academic discussion anyway as I know we will not get the answer on the effect the physical upgrade would have on the software less we have one of the engineers in here who designed it, Or, some other employee who confirms they just slap larger calipers n rotors on them and call it a day.

Good discussion though. I need to reach out to the guy who did the 63s calipers/rotors. However, if I recall correctly that was jumping from the upgraded 53 brakes to the 63 brakes and not all the way from 2 piston. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Also reiterating that this is our first Mercedes and I have absolutely ZERO mechanical experience with them. Hence my questions and retorts to (well received) answers. Those retorts are not argumentative, but meant to guide the conversations to where my little mind can get to where it's headed.

ALL responses appreciated!!!

 

BTW... I got side tracked with the brake conversation. Anyone have a lead on suspension upgrades for the non-Airmatic?