E3504matic

We have a ML430 that just had the brake light switch fail and wasn't allowing to get the shifter out of park. I noticed the brake lights weren't lighting so I figured it was a failed brake light switch. The car didn't know the brake was applied so it was locking the shifter in park. Luckily I still had the original switch in my garage (from when I swapped it out thinking it might go bad) and swapped the faulty one out. Everything worked after that.

Now for the weird part. The braking on our ML has been very poor like the calipers were not grabbing good even with new brake pads and rotors (done by me). Now with the original (working) switch the braking is back to how it use to be. Big difference. I noticed on the failed switch that the pin only came out half way after I got it unstuck. Is it my imagination or does this little $15 brake light switch also have something to do with the braking of the ML?

sosh

Do not believe it has anything to do with the actual braking. However perhaps it was installed incorrectly and interfered with the brake travel. Don't know how this could happen but its possible. It also sounds like maybe the replacement switch that failed was not an OEM switch

E3504matic

The switch was installed correctly (pretty hard to screw that up) and was purchased from the dealer.

sosh

Have you confirmed that the dealer sold you the correct part number as I believe there are several different versions of the swtitch for different models.