

The push rod plunges a piston through the master cylinder, converting mechanical force into hydraulic pressure. When you depress the brake pedal, a brake booster amplifies that force and activates a push rod. It converts force from your foot on the brake pedal into hydraulic pressure at the braking mechanism, stopping the wheels. The brake master cylinder plays a significant role in your car’s braking system. Let’s get to know the brake master cylinder a little bit more: 1. This, again, can translate to vehicle weaving whenever you press the brake pedal. In this case, one set of brake pads will be more worn than the other as the one with hydraulic circuit problems won’t be functioning efficiently. If one of the hydraulic circuits in the brake master cylinder develops an issue, uneven brake pad wear may occur. This is a safety measure to ensure that the other circuit can still stop the vehicle if one hydraulic circuit fails.Ī failure in one brake circuit may cause the vehicle to drift to one side when the brakes are applied, as only one circuit is functioning effectively. The brake master cylinder typically has two separate hydraulic brake circuits, where 1 brake circuit controls 2 wheels. Contaminated brake fluid can range from dark brown to almost black.Īnd while brake fluid will naturally degrade over time, fluid that’s degrading faster than usual, combined with other bad brake symptoms, can indicate brake hardware issues. New brake fluid is typically a clear, amber tone (if you’re using the usual DOT 3 brake fluid or DOT 4). They’ll also let all these contaminants and air in, adversely affecting braking performance. The master cylinder seals not only ensure that the brake fluid stays in - they also keep external contaminants like dirt, dust, and rust out.ĭamaged or broken seals won’t only leak fluid.

#2002 kia spectra brake problems code#
In this case, you’ll likely need an OBD code diagnosis to isolate the actual issue. If the brake warning light pops on, it’s a clear sign that something is wrong with the brake system.īut the check engine light can imply many things, not just braking system problems. This is when the brake warning light or check engine light illuminates. If your vehicle has brake fluid or pressure sensors, they’ll set off an alert when the brake fluid level or hydraulic pressure is too low. So, it’s always a good idea to regularly check the brake fluid reservoir level and keep an eye out for any brake fluid leaks under your car.
#2002 kia spectra brake problems cracked#
Cracked old master cylinder housing or brake fluid reservoir.Brake Fluid LeakĪ brake fluid leak can happen at almost any point in the braking system - from the master cylinder, brake line, to the caliper piston in disc brakes (or wheel cylinders in drum brakes).įluid leakage from the master cylinder can be due to a few things, like: And wheel cylinders will have trouble delivering brake shoe pressure onto a brake drum. Meaning, your brake calipers won’t get sufficient pressure to clamp the brake pads onto the brake rotors. More importantly, if the master cylinder doesn’t function correctly, the brakes won’t receive enough pressure to efficiently stop the wheels. The common culprit is often a damaged rubber seal inside the master cylinder. It’ll be slow to bounce back to its original position, or worse, not return at all. There may be excessive brake pedal travel, and it might even sink entirely to the floor. With a bad brake master cylinder, your brake pedal will likely feel soft and mushy. The brake pedal is often a mirror for problems in the brake system. What Are The Signs Of A Bad Master Cylinder?Ī bad brake master cylinder can manifest itself in several ways.
