Symptoms of a Possible Bad or Failing Brake Master Cylinder


Common signs of a faulty brake master cylinder include abnormal brake pedal behavior, contaminated brake fluid, and the Check Engine Light turning on.




The brake master cylinder is one of the most significant and important components found on modern car braking systems. It serves as the central valve that pushes brake fluid through the brake lines so that the brake calipers can squeeze the pads against the rotors. It functions by pushing a metal rod through a cylinder to force fluid through the braking system to the wheels. One end of this rod is attached to the pedal and is actuated when the pedal is depressed. Usually a defective brake master cylinder will produce a few symptoms that alert the driver that service may be necessary.

1. Abnormalities in your brake pedal behavior
One of the first symptoms commonly associated with a bad or failing brake master cylinder is abnormal brake pedal behavior. The master cylinder is the component that generates all of the pressure for the braking system, and if it develops any sort of problems sealing or distributing pressure, this may be felt in the pedal. Over time, with constant use, the seals inside of the cylinder can wear out and form internal leaks. A bad brake master cylinder may result in a pedal that feels mushy, spongy, or that slowly sinks to the floor when depressed.

2. Possible The Brake Fluid Is Contaminated
Another symptom of a bad brake master cylinder is contaminated brake fluid. Brake master cylinders use rubber seals which can break down and wear out over time. When they do, they can contaminate the brake fluid and will turn it dark brown or black color. Aside from contaminating the fluid, a brake master cylinder with worn seals will also not be able to hold brake pressure as effectively and may also result in a mushy pedal or one that slowly sinks to the floor.

3. Illuminated Check Engine Light
Another symptom commonly seen for newer vehicles is the Check Engine Light comes on. Newer vehicles braking systems may have brake fluid level and pressure sensors installed in the master cylinder. These sensors are intended to identify any problem with the vehicle’s brake fluid pressure, which is generated by the master cylinder. If they detect that the pressure has dropped, it is possibly due to a problem with the master cylinder.

4. Low level of your brake fluid
If the level of the brake fluid in brake master cylinder is getting low, you will have braking problems for sure. One of the signs you’ll notice is the brake pedal feeling soft as you lift your foot up on it.  If there are no fluid leaks and the brake fluid levels look normal, then your master cylinder must be the problem. The brake fluid in the reservoirs need to be secured in there and they need to close properly. If the lids are not in place firmly enough, then you need to fix them.

As the brake master cylinder is essentially the heart of the braking system and vital to reliable brake operation, it is an important component to the handling and safety characteristics of the vehicle. A vehicle with a bad brake master cylinder will have inoperable or compromised brakes, and therefore will be unsafe to drive. For this reason, if you suspect that your brake master cylinder is having a problem, have the brake system diagnosed by a professional technician in your area to determine if it the car needs a brake master cylinder replacement.

Location: 3812 16 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 3R7, Canada

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