Full Stop (Brake Master Cylinder Replacement)
January 19, 2025
When you step on your brake pedal, you want to feel confident that your vehicle’s going to stop. If your brakes aren’t working right, it’s a risk to your safety and the safety of others on the road. After all, you’re driving a machine that weighs thousands of pounds, and you have to be able to stop that big machine quickly and with control, especially with some of the speeds you travel on the highways.
The heart of your vehicle’s brake system is the master cylinder. When you apply the brakes, the master cylinder has pistons, springs, and brake fluid. That fluid amplifies and distributes the force of your foot through brake lines to calipers at all your wheels. Those calipers squeeze down on rotors or discs, which is what slows down and stops your vehicle.
For safety, a master cylinder has two cylinders, one for two wheels, and the other for the remaining two wheels. That way, if there is a failure in one, you’ll still have braking power at half your wheels.
The master cylinder doesn’t last forever, of course, and here are some signs it may have problems. When you press on the brake pedal, it feels soft and spongy. You may see the brake light on your instrument panel go on. You may notice brake fluid leaking, or it may be discolored.
All of those are signs of brakes that need attention, and among the possible culprits is a master cylinder that has failed. When you bring it in for a technician to look at, they’ll check not only the master cylinder but also the rest of the components, such as pads, discs, shoes, brake lines, and hoses. If your master cylinder needs replacing, we’ll make sure all the other parts meet the manufacturer’s specs as well.
Brakes are important. Really important. Full stop.
Charlie's Fast Lube Dexter
414 N 1 Mile Rd.
Dexter, Missouri 63841
573-614-7886
http://charliesfastlubedexter.com
Need Service?
More articles from Charlie's Fast Lube Dexter

Wired! (Battery Cable Service)
January 25, 2026
Colder weather brings out the worst in a vehicle's battery. On a very cold day, you may have experienced that your engine cranks slowly when starting. But while it may be the battery itself, it may also be the parts that transfer the power to other the other electrical components, the battery c... More

Cool Running (Water Pump)
January 18, 2026
Your vehicle is like you in a way. When it gets hot, it needs to be cooled down. And one of the key parts to keeping it cool is the water pump. Now, that's a bit of a misnomer. It IS a pump, but it's pumping coolant, not pure water. Cooling off your engine is vital since it builds up heat whe... More

I Had No Idea! (Four Things You Didn't Know About Vehicles)
January 11, 2026
Bet you didn't know: Some of the earliest rearview mirrors were marketed as "Cop Spotters" so drivers would know when police were following them. Who wants a ticket, anyway? According to eBay Motors, Elmer Berger first patented a rearview mirror that was mounted on the front fenders, on the spare... More
