

With a dual reservoir system the brake circuits are split into front and rear, and in the event of a failure you have a much better chance of safely stopping the vehicle. Single reservoir master cylinders provide pressure to both the front and rear systems, however, should a failure occur somewhere in the system, there is a very good chance that all brakes will be lost in the vehicle. Originally developed to handle the different fluid volume requirements for disc/drum brake combinations, it became quickly evident the dual reservoir systems also offered important safety benefits that were equally as applicable to the drum/drum brake cars as well. One important change was the shift from single reservoir master cylinders to dual reservoir master cylinders. As cars evolved from four-wheel drum systems to disc/drum combinations, the design of the various components making up the system changed in order to keep pace with the new technology. Brake systems are comprised of numerous parts, all working together to stop the vehicle. Often when things go wrong with a car mechanically, there is no warning they are about to fail, and most long-time enthusiasts have had their share of new or rebuilt parts fail as well. My response is always the same: “If a single reservoir system is so good, then why are they no longer offered?” Chances are your brake master cylinder will need to be repaired or replaced.I have heard the argument many times, claiming a properly maintained single reservoir master cylinder is just as safe as a dual reservoir system. If you notice that the brake pedal begins to sink lower into the floor, you should call and make an appointment with any qualified transmission shops in your area. Step 4: Begin applying pressure to your brakes and continue pushing down, maintaining the same amount of pressure until the pedal stops. Step 3: Next, you’ll want to check the surrounding areas to make sure that there aren’t any leaks. If it does, you will want to bring your car in and have the brake master cylinder inspected. While they are braking, look at the cylinder to see if the fluid begins to swirl or bubble. Step 2: Ask a friend or family member to sit in your car and press down on the brakes. If you’re struggling to find the brake fluid reservoir, try looking towards the back of the engine bay. Step 1: You’ll begin by opening the hood of your car and locating your brake fluid reservoir. Here is a step-by-step guide for proper testing: The cylinder needs to have a specific amount of fluid, otherwise, the vehicle will not be creating enough pressure to slow down or come to a stop.

If the brake master cylinder or surrounding areas begin to leak, your brake fluid level will begin to drop. If your brake pedal feels spongy or begins to sink into the floor of the vehicle, it is time to get the brake master cylinder inspected. The Brake Pedal Is Not Functioning Properly

Fresh brake fluid should be clear or yellow. When checking your brake fluid, if the color is a dark brown or black shade, it has been contaminated. Contaminated Brake FluidĪs we mentioned before, it is important to keep your filler cap sealed to avoid contamination. If your vehicle begins to experience any of these issues, have it looked at by a transmission specialist found at local transmission shops. Now that we know how the brake master cylinder functions, it will be easier to detect problems. When a pressure imbalance occurs, your brake light will turn on, signaling that the reservoir should be checked. The fluid level sensor helps keep track of how much fluid is in the brake reservoir. It is important to keep this cap sealed to ensure that dust or moisture won’t seep in and contaminate the fluid. The filler cap attached to the brake fluid reservoir has a tiny hole on the top that allows the fluid to fluctuate without causing pressure. This pressure building between the primary and secondary piston will lead the secondary piston to compress the fluid. Pressure will start to build in the master cylinder as you push farther down on the brake pedal. When you begin to press down on the brake pedal, the primary piston is triggered and begins to press down as well. Next are the primary and secondary pistons. The purpose of this valve is to signal the drum brakes to engage first, followed by the disc brakes. We’ll explain the role each part plays, making it easy to target a problem.įor every car that has disc brakes on their front wheels and drum brakes on their back wheels, they will also contain a proportioning valve. There are many moving parts that make up the brake master cylinder. It feeds brake fluid into the brake circuit to convert the pressure on the brake pedal to the hydraulic pressure. The brake master cylinder, also known as the master cylinder, is a hydraulic pump.
