Mercedes To Drop SBC Brake System
It's being reported today that Mercedes is dropping their Sensotronic
Brake Control (SBC) from some of their models, starting with the E-
Class.
The SBC system has been a chronic thorn in Mercedes' side.
Manufactured by the Robert Bosch Group, the SBC system has led to the
recall of over 2 million Mercedes models (namely the E-Class), and
has played an integral part in the widespread "Mercedes quality
problems" you hear about so often.
So what exactly is the SBC Braking system? I'll try to sum it up in a
nutshell. The SBC braking system uses a microcomputer to monitor the
car and driver actions. In the event it's needed, such as emergency
braking, the system monitors brake pressure, and applies the
appropriate stopping power necessary, even if the driver doesn't
exert enough power.
SBC features a host of other features as well, including distributing
brake force to different wheels during cornering, to ensure greater
stability in the vehicle as well as maximum stopping power; the SBC
system even dries the brake discs if a film of water forms on them.
In other words, the system sounds like a milestone achievement in
braking technology, and it would be, assuming it worked properly.
Unfortunately, although the intent was good, the execution was not.
As you can probably tell, the entire system relied on electronics,
and as I'm sure everyone can attest to, nothing is more prone to
malfunctioning than electronics. And that is exactly what happened.
Before long, wiring in the SBC braking system deteriorated, and
suddenly the SBC system no longer functioned.
Of course, Mercedes had a backup hydraulic-only braking system in
place, but the feeling of suddenly not having the same stopping power
was enough to send Mercedes' owners everywhere heading for the hills
- and you haven't stopped hearing about Mercedes quality problems since.
Apparently, Mercedes is finally getting tired of trying to convince
consumers of the benefits of the SBC system. Although the system is,
in my opinion, a definite advancement in braking technology, poor
implementation and poor design are ultimately leading to its downfall.
That's not to say Mercedes will entirely scrap the SBC system. I'm
sure Mercedes will continue to develop and improve the braking system
in the future; I just have a feeling the next generation of SBC will
be slightly less prone to malfunctioning.
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