6 Symptoms of a Bad Brake Master Cylinder (and Replacement Cost)

Does your brake pedal feel spongy, soft, or even sinks to the floor? It may be a faulty master cylinder.

Learn how this vital component works and how to recognize the most common symptoms of a bad brake master cylinder before your brakes completely fail. But don’t worry, the cost to replace the master cylinder isn’t as bad as you may think.

bad brake master cylinder symptoms

Bad Brake Master Cylinder Symptoms

#1 – Brake Fluid is Contaminated

There are rubber seals on brake master cylinders that get worn out after a while. If the rubber seals get in too bad of shape, the brake fluid will become contaminated and turn a darker color.

bad brake fluid

Another effect of worn rubber seals is the inability for the master cylinder to sustain the amount of brake pressure placed on it. As a result, the brake pedal will feel mushy and start falling to the floor slowly.

#2 – Sinking Brake Pedal

Normally, when you press on your brake pedal, it should ideally feel slightly firm and consistent. However, if your master cylinder is failing, you may notice that the pedal gradually sinks to the floor as you keep applying pressure.

foot over brake pedal

This happens because brake fluid is being pushed out of the system with pressure, indicating an internal leak within the master cylinder.

#3 – Spongy Brake Pedal

A spongy feeling brake pedal is another common symptom of master cylinder failure. This occurs when air enters your brake lines, causing the pedal to feel soft and less responsive than usual.

causes of spongy brakes

A small leak in the rubber seals of the master cylinder can introduce air into the brake lines and in turn cause a mushy feeling brake pedal which reduces the effectiveness of your braking system. 

#4 – Low Levels of Brake Fluid

If the brake master cylinder has a low level of brake fluid, you will likely have some braking issues. The first thing you’ll notice is the brake pedal feeling soft as you lift your foot up on it.

brake fluid leak symptoms

If there are no fluid leaks and the brake fluid level look normal, then your master cylinder is probably the culprit. The brake fluid in the reservoir needs to be sealed up in there and any hose connection needs to be tight and secure.

If you find that there’s a leak from the brake master cylinder and are sure it’s not a loose hose, cracked reservoir, or leaking lid, get the brake cylinder replaced asap.

#5 – Brake Warning Light

If you notice the brake warning light illuminate in your dash, you may have an issue with your brake master cylinder.

brake light on

That said, this light can also indicate other unrelated problems within your braking system, so you’ll want to have a professional mechanic inspect your brake system to determine the exact cause.

#6 – Check Engine Light Illuminates

Many newer cars have master cylinders with pressure sensors and brake fluid sensors built into them. These sensors will detect if there is something wrong with the brake fluid pressure of the vehicle.

If it finds the pressure dropping, for example, then the master cylinder is likely the cause and a diagnostic trouble code will be recorded by the car’s ECU and this will set off the “Check Engine” warning light on the dashboard.

check engine light

If this light were to illuminate then it could possibly be because of the master cylinder. Of course, you won’t know the exact cause of the check engine light until you get your car scanned.

But if the light appears alongside any other symptom here, there’s a chance it’s your master cylinder. Using an OBD2 scanner is the only way to confirm what error code is stored.

Please Note: If you examine each exterior component and don’t see any signs of problems with them, then your brake master cylinder is definitely going bad. It may even have failed already. If you test your braking system and look for the symptoms listed above, you will be able to tell if your brake master cylinder is truly to blame or if there is some other component to blame.

Brake Master Cylinder Replacement Cost

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brake master cylinder replacement cost

The total cost to replace a brake master cylinder will usually be somewhere in the range of $250 to $550 if you have a professional mechanic do the job.

A new brake master cylinder and any related parts (including new brake fluid) will cost anywhere from $100 to $300. Labor will run about $150 to $250. There will also be extra fees and tax charges on top of this.

Brake hoses and pipes are what connect the brakes to the brake master cylinder, which has brake fluid in it. Every time you put your foot on the brake pedal, there is a flow of brake fluid that comes out of the master cylinder and goes into each wheel’s braking unit.

This is how the friction gets created that slows the vehicle down. There are seals on the inside and outside of the brake master cylinder that can get worn after a while. Since the brake fluid is often contaminated, a brake fluid flush, change, and bleed also needs to be done.

How a Brake Master Cylinder Works

The function of the brake master cylinder is to turn brake pedal pressure into hydraulic pressure. The master cylinder accomplishes this by providing the brake circuit with brake fluid.

It also manages the amount of brake fluid that gets transferred, according to the pressure placed on the brake pedal. Whether you have drum brakes or disc brakes in your vehicle, it has a brake master cylinder in it.

The law requires that vehicles have two different braking circuits in them. The hydraulic pressure generated for them comes from tandem master cylinders. That way, if one braking circuit stops working, the other circuit will already have all the brake pressure to remain functional.

Whenever your foot pushes down on the brake pedal, the pressure piston receives the power pressure of your foot. This pushes the piston further near the brake line.

In older cars, the force of the brake is generated after the pressure chamber closes from the piston collar going on top of the bore. Modern cars have a spring supporting the pressure piston. As a result, when you take your foot off the brake pedal, it goes back to its starting position.

Once this happens, the brake fluid goes back into the master cylinder. That way, the next time you press the brake pedal, it will increase the brake pressure again.

See Also:  Symptoms of a Bad Clutch Master Cylinder

Where Is the Master Cylinder Located?

Typically, the brake master cylinder is attached directly to the firewall (what separates the engine compartment for the car interior) on the driver’s side and in close proximity to the brake fluid reservoir.

Simply find the brake fluid reservoir and follow the brake lines that lead to the master cylinder and brake booster.

Brake Master Cylinder vs Brake Booster

Both the master brake cylinder and brake booster are important components of a vehicle’s braking system and they work together to help you stop your car but that’s where the similarities end.

While the master brake cylinder is responsible for distributing brake fluid to the brakes, the brake booster makes it easier to apply the brakes by amplifying the force you apply to the brake pedal.

So with a failure of the first, your vehicle would not be able to stop. On the other hand, if the brake booster were to fail, it would simply make it more difficult to apply the brakes which would lead to longer stopping distances.

If either of these components experienced complete failure, a serious accident could be the result. But with the brake master cylinder, the situation would likely be much more serious.

What Can Cause the Brake Master Cylinder to Fail?

Wear and Tear

Brake master cylinders, like other parts of your car, wear out over time. The internal seals and components simply break down and wear out over time. This is a natural process, and with regular use, even well-maintained brake master cylinders will eventually need to be replaced.

Contaminated Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is as important to a vehicle’s braking system as what motor oil is to an engine. While brake fluid doesn’t get contaminated as quickly as engine oil, it still requires periodic changes.

If you allow brake fluid to deteriorate for too long, contaminants like water, dirt, or other debris can cause damage to the master cylinder as they can break down the rubber seals and cause corrosion.

Manufacturing Defects

While rare, manufacturing defects can occur in brake master cylinders, especially if it has already been replaced with an aftermarket (non OEM) part. If a faulty component was used during manufacturing, the brake master cylinder may fail earlier than expected.

How Much Brake Fluid Does a Master Cylinder Reservoir Hold?

In most vehicles, the master cylinder reservoir holds between 8 to 12 ounces of brake fluid. However, this amount may vary depending on the make and model of your car. To find out the exact capacity of your master cylinder reservoir, you’ll need to consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual or service manual.

When checking the brake fluid level, pay close attention to the fluid’s condition and the reservoir’s markings. Your reservoir should have a “MAX” and “MIN” line, indicating the recommended limits. Both underfilling and overfilling can lead to brake system complications.

Inspecting the Brake Master Cylinder

When you suspect that your vehicle might have a bad brake master cylinder, you’ll want to get it inspected right away. Luckily, you can do this on your own by following these steps.

  1. First, make sure to park your car on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
  2. Pop the hood and locate the brake master cylinder. As noted above, it’s usually mounted on the firewall near the driver’s side, and it’s connected to the brake booster.
  3. Examine the components for any visible damage, such as cracks, leaks, or rust.
  4. Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir, as low brake fluid could indicate a problem with the master cylinder.
  5. Test your brake pedal behavior. A bad brake master cylinder might cause the pedal to feel mushy, spongy, or slowly sink to the floor when depressed.
  6. Pay attention to any illuminated warning lights on your dashboard. If you notice a brake warning light, it can indicate master cylinder failure.

If you’re not confident about inspecting the master cylinder yourself or simply don’t have time, seek help from a professional mechanic (or that neighbor who’s always working on their car).

Mark Stevens

5 Comments

  1. I had the same problem and when my car was cooled down the breaking system worked fine. I replaced the brake fluid rubber hoses at the front because they were old and soft. Hoses were collapsing on the inside liner when hot preventing fluid to run through them and locking the braking system. No other parts had to be changed and the problem was fixed.

  2. Thank you for above but my problem is not mentioned. I have had all the brake parts either replaced or serviced bar the Master Cylinder on my car. The car runs freely until it gets warm and then the brakes seize solid. Even 4 bulky men and me in 1st gear would not budge her today. I have Mark 2 Ford Escort running gear on a 55 Ford prefect body. All 4 wheels were locked-both drum and disc brakes. When the system cools down all becomes free again. I have been told that there is a flow valve inside the Master Cylinder and that it can rust especially on a car that has been in store for over 4 years (as mine was). The occurrence time has become less. It now takes around a mile before she locks solid. Grateful for your thoughts please.

    1. I had a 89 Ford Taurus, that did the same thing, whilst I was driving on the highway!! Got rid of it.

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