Master Cylinder Repair

While driving your car, have you felt a squishy or soft feeling while pressing the brakes? If yes, it means you need a master cylinder repair. While you press the brake pedal, it would sink and would touch the floor. Moreover, the brake fluid leaks internally within the master cylinder. Whenever such a thing happens you have to press the brake pedal over and over again so as to stop the car. Usually, when the master cylinder needs a repair, you notice brake fluid leaking either from near the wheels or from the master cylinder itself. So whenever you notice some fluid oozing out and at the same time the brakes not working that well, make sure you check the master cylinder. Here we give you some tips on repairing a master cylinder.

How to Repair a Master Cylinder

The first step of repairing a master cylinder is to identify the reservoir and master cylinder. You need to identify the components of the master cylinder, sensors of the brake fluid level and fluid lines. Once you have identified them, you need to remove the cap of the brake fluid reservoir and introduce brake fluid removal tool to get rid of the brake fluid. After removing brake fluid, refill the cylinder and reinstall the cap. You also need to remove the electrical lines which connect to the sensor of the fluid level. Usually these electrical lines are provided with safety clips and these needs to be released before disconnecting.

Once you have followed these steps, you need to install a line wrench on the lines of the brake fluid. A line wrench is special in the sense that it can hold five points instead of two points in a normal wrench. A line wrench gives more power and at the same time does not damage the fittings. Move the wrench in a counter clockwise direction so as to loosen the fittings of the master cylinder. Once you have removed all the fittings, you need to remove the mounting bolts of a master cylinder with the help of a socket wrench. After removing the mounting bolts, remove the master cylinder from the vehicle.

Once you have removed all the dirt from the master cylinder, you can reinstall it, tighten the mounting bolts, connect the fluid lines and the sensor. The master cylinder should be refilled with new brake fluid. The four screws of the brake fluid bleeder on the wheel cylinder or brake caliper should be loosened. Once all these steps are done with, test the brake pedal by pressing it. Here you would need to help of someone, as the person would need to close the four screws of the brake bleeder while you press the brake pedal. Slowly let the pedal return to normal as this would let new fluid into the cylinder.

Master Cylinder Repair Cost

Master cylinder repair requires great care and time besides experience. Removing each part requires a number of specialized and expensive tools making repairing a master cylinder a complex and costly affair. If you get it done at a dealer, you can expect to shell out anywhere in the range of US $300 to 350. However, it can go higher and that depends on the scope of the fix. Again, if you have to replace individual master cylinders in each wheel, the cost would rise. On the other hand, if you can do it yourself at home, you don't need to pay that much. You just need to pay for the brake fluid, besides the instruments which you would need for repairing.

Thus, master cylinder repair is not that tough as many would think. It's always better to try doing it yourself, but if you can't, get it done at a reputed mechanic shop so that you are assured of quality service.