DISC BRAKE SYSTEM OF THE CAR

• While some popular cars still used drum brakes for the rear wheels, most new cars used disc brakes on all four wheels because they helped the car stop better and dissipate heat faster.
• There was a time when most cars were fitted with drum brakes on all four wheels, but since 1975, safety standards have required all front brakes to be disc brakes.
• The disc brake was patented by a British engineer named Frederick Lanchester in 1902 and was first used on his Lanchester in 1903. At that time, modern materials were not available, so brake pads often wore out very quickly, so disc brakes were extremely rare until the 1950s.

SYMPTOMS OF A PROBLEM WITH THE MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM

The master cylinder (master cylinder) is one of the most important parts of the brake system as it converts the braking force from the pedal into hydraulic force that pushes the brake pistons tightly against the brake disc or brake drum, helping the vehicle slow down. When the master cylinder of this system begins to wear out and is about to fail, some obvious symptoms will begin to appear. You should check the brake system immediately when the following signs begin to appear because it will be very dangerous if the brake system on your vehicle does not operate at its full capacity.

Warning lights

The first and most recognizable sign of a problem with the brake system or master brake is the brake system warning light on the dashboard. However, this warning light is not necessarily a failure indicator for the master brake, but rather a general indicator of any problems occurring in this system. However, if the sensor system detects a decrease in brake pressure compared to normal, it may be caused by the master brake. On the other hand, if the ABS light is on, the cause may be due to this part itself.

Brake fluid leak

The master cylinder needs a certain amount of brake fluid to distribute enough pressure to the brakes to slow the vehicle. If it starts to leak or the upper reservoir shows low fluid, it is time to check around the part and refill the fluid. Otherwise, this problem will directly affect the vehicle’s ability to slow down. Sometimes, this symptom is more serious and requires replacing the entire master cylinder.

“Soft” brake pedal

When the brake pedal feels softer than usual when you press it, this is a sure sign that you have a problem with the master cylinder. This symptom of the master cylinder can be caused by insufficient brake fluid pressure. To fix this problem, you should check the rubber seals between the brake booster and the master cylinder as well as some other places that connect to this part. They may be old, loose or worn, causing brake fluid to leak.

Brake fluid contains sludg

Another problem that comes from worn rubber is that it makes the brake fluid more dirty. These rubber seals not only prevent the oil inside from spilling out when force is applied, but also prevent outside dirt from getting into the system. Not only that, the rubber scraps generated from these parts also contribute to dirty brake fluid. If this happens, the brake pressure will not be as good as before and will lead to ineffective braking, making it more difficult to slow down the vehicle. To fix this, you need to replace the brake fluid and make sure that the dirt inside is completely removed before adding new fluid.

Brake pedal does not return to original position

Another phenomenon that helps you recognize a problem with the master brake is when the brake pedal does not return to its original position after use or returns very slowly. When you encounter this symptom of the brake pedal, you should immediately check the entire brake system, especially the power booster and the master brake, and replace them to ensure safety when the vehicle is operating.

Uneven braking force

The master cylinder has two separate oil lines to distribute the braking force to a certain pair of wheels. This helps the vehicle not to lose all four wheels when the brakes fail. Normally, the brake fluid system is arranged in two circuits: straight with the two front wheels and the two rear wheels will be a pair while the cross oil circuit will be one front wheel on one side paired with the other rear wheel on the other side. If one oil circuit fails, you will still have the remaining oil circuit working when braking and will quickly realize that the vehicle brakes unevenly and feels like it is drifting. When this happens, you should call a tow truck to take your vehicle to the garage to replace the new oil line as well as check the brake master cylinder oil distributor.

Uneven brake pads

Another point caused by a damaged master brake is uneven brake pad wear. The cause of this is also because the oil distribution system and oil circuit do not work properly, causing the brake pressure on each wheel to be different. Unevenly worn brake pads also make the vehicle unstable when braking. When checking and repairing this part, you should also check some other parts such as the master brake, oil line, rubber gasket, etc.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Faulty Wheel Cylinder?

A bad wheel cylinder is often hard to spot because it’s located inside the drum brake.

However, here some signs that something’s wrong with it:

· Your car has poor brake response, and you’ll find that braking takes longer

· Your Brake Pedal Feels Mushy, soft or the pedal sinks to the vehicle floor

· There’s a Brake Fluid Leak in your rear brake drum that pools near a rear wheel

· The rear drum brakes drag or lock up

If you run into any of these problems, don’t drive your car.

Why Does The Wheel Cylinder Fail?

Since a wheel cylinder contains so many moving parts, there are plenty of reasons why this hard-working component can fail.

Here are five of the most common ones:

1. Rubber Seal Failure

The wheel cylinder piston seals and dust boots are made of rubber.

These seals become brittle with time and can fail with exposure to extreme heat or due to natural wear and tear.

When they fail, your vehicle will leak brake fluid, the hydraulic pressure will drop in the braking system, and your braking performance will be compromised.

2. Worn Pistons

Pistons are meant to be a specific diameter relative to your cylinder bore size.

However, with time, pistons can wear down and won’t fit snugly in the cylinder bore anymore. If this happens, there’s a risk of a piston seal leaking or the piston rocking, which can increase wear.

3. Stuck Pistons

The cylinder bore is supposed to have a smooth surface.

However, corrosion and pitting can develop in the cylinder bore due to exposure to moisture in the brake fluid, which can cause your piston to get stuck.

Stuck pistons result in a drum brake that won’t release, creating major braking problems in your drum brake system.

4. Pistons That Slip Out Of The Bore

Excessive brake drum wear can create enough space for pistons to slip out of the cylinder bore completely. At this point, your drum brakes won’t work at all.

5. Cracked Cylinder Body

Older wheel cylinders can split and crack under pressure, leaking brake fluid, compromising its function.

Note: While it seems like a relatively simple component, replacing or fixing a bad wheel cylinder isn’t a straightforward task because of its location and how it works with the rest of your drum brake system.

So what’s the best way to get it fixed?

Wheel Cylinder FAQs

Here are a few answers to questions you have about wheel cylinders.

1. How Many Wheel Cylinders Does A Car Have?

That depends on how many drum brakes your vehicle has and the brake cylinder configuration used.

In general, a vehicle with drum brakes will have 2 dual piston wheel cylinders.

That’s because cars with drum brakes typically only use them as rear brakes.

2. How Long Does A Wheel Cylinder Last?

You can expect your wheel cylinders to last around 3-5 years, or up to approximately 100,000km. This will depend on the make and model of your vehicle and the type of driving done.

Heavy-duty driving (like towing or driving in mountainous terrain) will definitely wear down your wheel cylinder faster.

3. Will My Brakes Still Work If The Wheel Cylinder Fails?

Yes, your brakes will still work, but you’ll experience poor brake response.

Most cars have a dual circuit braking system — meaning if one circuit fails (as in a rear wheel cylinder goes bust in a wheel), there’s still braking capability in the other circuit

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However, keep in mind that your brakes won’t be as powerful, the braking distance will be longer, and if you have disc brakes on the front, the rear of your car might jump if you brake hard.

4. If My Wheel Cylinder Leaks, Do I Need To Replace The Brake Shoes Too?

A brake shoe replacement is only necessary if they are too thin or saturated with brake fluid from a leak.

If there’s not too much fluid on the brake shoe, it can still be cleaned up quickly and reliably.

5. Is It More Cost Effective To Replace The Wheel Cylinder With The Brake Shoes?

For the most part, yes.

If you replace the wheel cylinder during a brake shoe job, the new wheel cylinder and labor cost will typically be included in a package price.

The labor time spent replacing the brake shoes and wheel cylinder overlap, so a wheel cylinder replacement is a relatively small additional labor charge.

However, most professional technicians would recommend a replacement as many aftermarket wheel cylinders match OEM specifications these days, so a rebuild is not needed.

Additionally, note that rebuilding requires tons of care and time, specialized mechanical knowledge and is not always doable if your wheel cylinder is too damaged.