If you notice the following signs with your vehicle, it could indicate that your brake master cylinder is failing:
Click the above brake master cylinder symptoms to learn more about each one.
The brake master cylinder is an important part of your braking system. It converts force, usually applied by pressing your foot on the brake pedal, into hydraulic pressure. To learn more about your brake master cylinder, you can check out these sections too:
What Is Your Brake Master Cylinder?
How Your Car's Braking System Works
What Can Cause Your Brake Master Cylinder to Fail?
Why Is It Important to Get Your Brake Master Cylinder Checked?
If you are experiencing issues with your brakes, get the experts at Hansma to take a look at them.
For a brake master cylinder repair you can trust, contact Hansma
How To Know If Your Master Cylinder is Faulty
There are some simple clues that can point you towards having your brake master cylinder checked. They include:
A soft, mushy brake pedal
A check engine light
Dark or dirty brake fluid
Let's examine these more in detail.
There are a few signs that your brake master cylinder may be failing
1. A Soft, Mushy Brake Pedal
As your brake master cylinder and its various parts begin to deteriorate, you will see a change in your braking system. You may notice the following when you are driving:
You may need to use more effort to press the brake pedal
Your brake pedal may feel "mushy" or "spongy"
Your brake pedal may even sink to the floor entirely
These are signs that there is a fault at some point in the braking system and that you should get it checked out right away.
A soft brake pedal might be telling you that you need a brake master cylinder replacement
2. Check Engine Light
Check engine lights may indicate there are problems other than with the engine itself. This is especially true of newer model vehicles.
If your vehicle is newer, it may be equipped with brake fluid level and pressure sensors in your brake master cylinder. These sensors can detect if there is a problem with your brake fluid pressure, which is controlled by the brake master cylinder.
If your brake fluid pressure drops, then you most likely have a problem with your brake master cylinder. This situation could also cause your brake warning light to come on too.
Source: Master Cylinder: How It Works
Your brake master cylinder may contain sensors that could trigger your check engine light
3. Dirty Brake Fluid
If your brake fluid has become contaminated or dirty, it can adversely affect how your braking system works. Dirty brake fluid is caused when seals begin to break down into small parts and collect in your fluid. In this case, the brake fluid will appear dirtier or darker.
Brake fluid that has become contaminated by moisture can cause internal corrosion in your master cylinder as well as your brake lines and other components of your braking system.
Regular maintenance by a qualified technician will quickly discover if the fluid is darker than it should be or if it has moisture in it.
Watch the following video to discover how you can test the condition of your brake fluid.
Learn how to test your brake fluid
What Is Your Brake Master Cylinder?
The Brake Master Cylinder is a vital component of a modern car. Where is the master cylinder located?
The master cylinder is attached to a brake booster that gives more power to your braking system. This assembly is then attached to the firewall in your engine compartment. Your brake pedal is connected to the master cylinder brake booster.
The master cylinder is an important component of your vehicle
How your car’s braking system works:
Step 1: Press Your Brake Pedal - When you put pressure on your brake pedal, the hydraulic braking system begins to operate by pushing brake fluid through the system.
Step 2: Fluid Enters the Braking System: By responding to pressure on the brake pedal, fluid from the reservoir enters the lines in the hydraulic braking system, applying pressure to the brakes.
Step 3: Vehicle Stops: The master cylinder converts the applied force of your foot into hydraulic pressure. This pressure is what slows your vehicle and causes it to stop.
The following video will demonstrate how a brake master cylinder works.
Your brake master cylinder is at the heart of your braking system
What Can Cause Your Brake Master Cylinder to Fail?
Over time, like any component in a vehicle, your brake master cylinder may wear out and need replacement. Although they are intended to last as long as the vehicle itself, various factors come into play that may reduce the life of the cylinder and its parts. These include:
City Driving: City driving is harder on a brake master cylinder than highway driving, as the brakes tend to be applied more often.
Insufficient Fluid: Failure to check fluid levels in the reservoir may also lead to problems if there is insufficient fluid in the system.
Fluid Leaks: Some of the rubber seals may become dried and brittle, allowing fluid to leak out and drain the system.
Preventative measures such as regular car maintenance can help prevent or postpone some of these types of problems from appearing.
Learn more about why a master cylinder may fail
Why Is It Important to Get Your Brake Master Cylinder Checked?
Your brake master cylinder is a key feature of your entire braking system. If it fails, then your brakes will no longer be reliable or safe to use. If your brake master cylinder isn't working, your brakes will be inoperable or compromised.
Faulty brakes can lead to a loss of control of your vehicle, so if you think that you have a problem, then you should have your brake system diagnosed by a professional technician. You may need to get a brake master cylinder replacement.
If you think there is a problem, get your brakes checked out asap
Further Reading
There are numerous problems that braking systems can suffer from. Our post entitled "My Brake Warning Light Is On - Brake Noise" will help you to determine what some other common braking issues can be.
Why Choose Hansma Automotive?
We believe that we provide auto service that is second to none. Read our blog entitled, "Auto Service Kitchener - Top 5 Reasons to Choose Hansma Automotive" for insight as to why we believe we are the best choice.
Get in touch with us immediately if you suspect that you have any braking problems with your vehicle. Most repairs can be done in a few hours or less. The braking system is the single most important safety feature employed by your vehicle - don't take chances with it.
Call or Text: 519-748-5533
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Sources:
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Brake Master Cylinder
How Long Does a Master Cylinder Last
Diagnosing Common Brake Master Cylinder Problems