Don’t Overlook These 7 Bad Master Cylinder Symptoms! (Replacement Cost Included)

Brakes are among the most important parts of any vehicle; thus, if any problem occurs within this compartment, you need to detect and fix it immediately. That’s also the case with brake master cylinders. Today, Driverevolve will discuss the 7 most common bad master cylinder symptoms and related details, so you and your loved ones are always safe!  

What Is A Master Cylinder? 

A brake master cylinder is essential to your car’s braking unit. It transmits the force applied to the braking foot to the actual brake itself, which in return, slows your wheels down. It’s the nerve center of your vehicle’s braking mechanism.

What does a master cylinder do? 

When you put pressure on the braking foot, your master cylinder transforms that force into a hydrodynamic signal to the brakes. To stop the car, brake fluid is pumped hydraulically via tubes and valves. Hydrodynamic pressure disappears when you lift your foot from the pedal, and the brakes decompress. Seems like a no-brainer, right?

In a way, yes. However, this mechanism is rather delicate. Incorrect pressure prevents the brakes from functioning properly. Low braking fluid, debris in the pipes, and other factors may all contribute to an abnormal pressure level. That’s why you need to keep an eye on your brakes’ condition and ensure they are working correctly.

7 Most Common Bad Master Cylinder Symptoms 

Brake master cylinder problems may cause shaky stopping and inconsistent pad deterioration. It might also make your vehicle drag to one side while stopping, which is extremely dangerous.

There are a few telltale signs of a failing brake master cylinder. Braking properly is essential, so if you think your brake master cylinders are malfunctioning, fix them immediately.

Warning Light

Your Brake Warning Light popping up on the dashboard is the first and most apparent sign of braking trouble. That means a few issues with the brakes have been detected, but they may not be the problems with your brake master cylinder itself.

However, if your braking mechanism devices notice a change in brake fluid pressure, it is due to a malfunctioning brake master cylinder in most cases. This will trigger the appearance of your warning signal.

Brake Fluid Leak

The hydrodynamic power necessary for braking the car requires a particular amount of brake fluid inside your brake master cylinders.

If your brake master cylinders start losing braking fluid (red fluid leaking from car) or if there are loose nuts on the cylinder containing the liquid, you will almost certainly have a reduced brake fluid pressure.

As a result, you will have less control while braking. In this case, your best bet is a replacement master cylinder for the brakes.

Spongy Brake Pedal

If you push down on the brake foot and it seems soft, it’s a sign that your brake master cylinders need a replacement.

This is because the cylinder has rubber gaskets that prevent the braking fluid from leaking. Your braking fluid would leak if those rubber seals wear out or get broken. The brake pedal would get soft as a consequence of this.

Contaminated Brake Fluid

Brake fluid contamination is another possible outcome of damaged rubber gaskets. These gaskets seal the braking fluid and filter out particles and dirt that may contaminate it.

If this occurs, your brake pressure will be less than when you stamp on your braking foot. You’d likely have to apply more pressure on the brake pedal so the car can slow down normally.

Sinking Brake Pedal

Sometimes, the braking foot might stay compressed when you take your foot off it rather than rebounding to the top as usual. That’s the next sign.

Replacing your brake master cylinders is urgent in this case before it becomes a severe driving danger.

Bad Brake Bias

Usually, brake master cylinders have 2 different circuits, each of which supplies a different set of wheels with braking fluid. This is to avoid a complete loss of brake control if leakage occurs in one half of the unit.

Those circuits typically operate 2 sets of wheels, often 1 set of the front plus 1 set of the rear. For instance, the left front and right rear tires may use one circuit, whereas the right front and left rear tires would use another.

When one circuit fails, your car will slide to one side when you use the brakes. This is especially true during emergency braking, as your front brakes have to execute more stopping effort than the rear ones.

Uneven Brake Pad Wear

Inconsistent pad degradation might result from a faulty circuit that only allows 2 of the 4 tires to utilize your brakes. For example, wear and tear might be worse on the vehicle’s right front and left rear tires. If left untreated for a long time, you might easily notice the steering wheel shaking at 60 mph. 

Brake Master Cylinder Replacement Cost 

The typical cost to repair a faulty brake master cylinder is $320 to $500. The actual price of the component itself will be relatively low, ranging between $100 and $210. However, the most costly part of the replacement task will be the service, estimated at $230-$300.

If you are mechanically inclined and familiar with things like car brakes, you can save a ton of money by fixing your own automobile. However, you’ll need some mechanical know-how for this task, or you might worsen matters.

How Long Does It Take To Replace A Master Cylinder?

It takes about 2 hours to change a master cylinder. If you’re doing other maintenance on your brakes, you can take 40 minutes off. 

Replacement of a master cylinder typically does not necessitate a bleed at the tires if performed by a professional specialist. This will work to their benefit and speed up the process of getting the job done. Even if the task goes above 2 hours, you will still be billed the fixed rate.

How Do You Test A Brake Master Cylinder? 

If you suspect your car’s brakes are malfunctioning, you should start by inspecting the brake master cylinders. The process is also relatively easy; thus, feel free to perform at home.

To begin, lift the hood of your automobile and find the tank containing braking fluid. Near the rear of the inside engine compartment, you’ll find a plastic cylinder loaded with hydraulic liquid. Your manual gearbox automobile will possess 2 reservoirs, the largest of which holds brake fluid.

Have a friend step on the braking foot while you check the liquid level in the tank. If the liquid in the tank is churning or there are air pockets when you apply the brakes, a new master cylinder is probably necessary.

Check for liquid leakage in the region surrounding your master cylinders. Any spillage of braking fluid from the master cylinders indicates that it is malfunctioning and should be changed. However, if the liquid is seeping from other pipes or hoses, the master cylinders are usually not the culprit.

Put your foot on the pedal and keep it there until the vehicle stops moving. If the braking foot stays sank and doesn’t return to its normal position a few seconds after coming to a complete stop, your master cylinders are likely faulty and need a replacement.

Examine your brake master cylinders to see if it’s the root of the issue. The master cylinders operate normally if there are no liquid spills, swirls, or air pockets in the braking fluid tank and your braking foot does not return to its normal position after braking.

Wrapping Up 

The master cylinder is the “brain” of your braking unit. It regulates the liquid going to your vehicle’s most crucial systems.

Thus, never overlook bad master cylinder symptoms since doing so could put everyone in the car in danger if the brakes fail. Alternatively, have the issue examined by a professional to determine whether or not a repair or replacement is necessary.

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