Brake Master Cylinder Replacement Cost

The brake master cylinder, a rounded, black object mounted beneath the vehicle hood, in front of the brake pedal, is a part designed to develop braking force and controls the action of each brake.

Working with your vehicle’s entire braking system, if the master cylinder seals start to wear and/or the part is simply failing as time goes on, then you’re going to want to get the problem resolved ASAP as this could lead to serious or even deadly consequences on the road since your brakes will not be working as they should.

In the end, picture the part as being responsible for making sure there’s enough braking fluid stored inside of this part, always making sure enough fluid is released whenever you push on the brake pedal.

“New Master Cylinder” (CC BY 2.0) by Ryan Frost

The reported master cylinder replacement costs

The costs to replace the brake master cylinder all depends on the vehicle you’re driving and the mechanic/dealer you use.  From our research online, the costs to hire a mechanic, including parts, can range anywhere from $250 to $625, with most domestics costing less than $350, while the luxury brands, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, often being the $400 to $600~ range.

For just the parts, prices range anywhere from $45 to $250, again, depending on the vehicle make/model.  Seeing the job takes about two hours for the average mechanic, it’s safe to add about another $200~ to the part costs to receive a final total if hiring a professional.

With so many quotes mentioned online, we compiled the top makes and models and included our findings in the table below:

According to the average quotes received by vehicle owners on YourMechanic.com, the average dealer costs ranged from $186 to $423, while the “YourMechanic” price was anywhere from $149 to $371.

Extra costs to consider

If other parts of the braking system, such as the cylinders, calipers and/or hoses are either deemed in poor condition or are contaminated, then these parts will need to be replaced as well during the repair.

How does this part work?

The brake master cylinder is found on all modern-day vehicles and is located near the brake booster.

As you apply the brake, the master cylinder will force brake fluid to the calipers, forcing the calipers to squeeze the brakes pads into the brake rotor.  As this pressure is being created by two small-like plungers located inside of the master cylinder, it will compress the brake fluid as you push the brake pedal forward.

The replacement process

Before the part is even deemed faulty, your mechanic will first want to inspect and test the system, especially to spot any leaks.  If any leaks are present in the brake cylinder, then this almost always means the part will need to be replaced in its entirety.  Most parts, as mentioned in our introduction, will be found beneath the hood of your vehicle.

Once deemed faulty, then the brake master cylinder will be removed by disconnecting it with a socket wrench to remove it from its connectors.   While changing the brake cylinder, the fluid will also be flushed and changed out as this process can often contaminate the current brake fluid.

Next, the entire braking system is cleaned with air and before the new brake fluid is used, all parts, surrounding the system, will be cleaned.

The new brake fluid will be injected into the lines and the new part will be installed in reverse order.

Lastly, the mechanic will test it out on the road to make sure the part works as it should.

Symptoms of a faulty master cylinder

In simple terms, most drivers report the brakes as having a “spongy” feel whenever you apply the brakes.  If your brakes feel as if they are not working as they should, then the master cylinder could be the culprit.  Oftentimes, this spongy feeling is caused when air has been introduced into the actual master cylinder and/or the brake lines are leaking fluid.

Aside from feeling spongy, the brakes may quickly sink to the floor when pressure is applied, and if you’re noticing this symptom, then this could point to the plungers inside the master cylinder, as mentioned above, not being able to produce enough pressure for the car to come to a complete stop.

If your brake warning light is on, this could point to a faulty master cylinder, depending on the OBD code.

Any brake fluid leaks, a clear fluid on the ground or beneath the brake pedal, can mean a bad master cylinder.

Do note, if you ever feel your brakes are not working as they should, then you should get the car inspected immediately.  As mentioned, if not enough pressure is applied when coming to a stop, you may find the car will not brake as it should, ultimately causing a situation where you may not be able to come to a stop as expected.

Tips to know

The brake master cylinder tends to be a common repair among most makes and models, but the majority of cars, as reported by RepairPal.com, will not need the repair before 125,000 miles.  As there are few moving parts here, failure can be prevented as long as you stick to a strict maintenance schedule as recommended by your car manufacturer.  As long as you take in your car, a good mechanic can always spot the problem before it gets out of control as they will check the amount of brake fluid inside your system every time they change the oil.

If the seals are worn out and you avoid the problem, not only are you putting yourself and other passengers at risk, this fluid can also leak into the brake booster, destroying this part as well, costing you even more money.

How to check your master cylinder for problems

At home, you can check your brake system’s master cylinder, and it’s not that hard to do.  To do so, open the reservoir on the top of your master cylinder.  If you do not know where it’s located, this is what it should look like.  If you have a part with a plastic lid, then you can simply unscrew it, but if it’s made of metal, you will need a screwdriver to pry the lid off. When doing so, make sure you do not get any dirt or debris into the reservoir as this can contaminate the braking system. Once the lid is off, take a look inside of the master cylinder to see the level of your brake fluid.  If it’s at the “full” line or close to it, then there’s a good chance the part is the problem. Close the lid as fast as possible since oxygen and/or any water vapors can contaminate the fluid as well.  After you check the brake levels, then you will also want to look beneath the master cylinder for any stains, wetness and/or anything that may point to a sign of leaking.

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