logo

Buick Reatta Brake Master Cylinder Replacement at your home or office.

Our mobile mechanics offer services 7 days a week. Upfront and transparent pricing.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(7)

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

See availability

Customer Ratings

(7)

Brake Master Cylinder Replacement Service

How much does a Brake Master Cylinder Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Buick Reatta Brake Master Cylinder Replacement is $254 with $114 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1990 Buick ReattaV6-3.8LService typeBrake Master Cylinder ReplacementEstimate$397.92Shop/Dealer Price$462.25 - $647.14
1991 Buick ReattaV6-3.8LService typeBrake Master Cylinder ReplacementEstimate$615.41Shop/Dealer Price$734.60 - $1088.04
Show example Buick Reatta Brake Master Cylinder Replacement prices

What is the brake master cylinder and how does it work?

The brake master cylinder has a piston that pressurizes fluid in the brake lines to each wheel cylinder as you apply force to the brake pedal. That pressure moves the pistons that are in the wheel cylinders. As the pistons in those wheel cylinders move, they force the brake pads or shoes tightly against the rotors or drums allowing the car to stop quickly.

The size of the pistons in the master cylinder and in the wheel cylinders are carefully selected when designing a car. This allows drivers to apply moderate pressure on the brake pedal when stopping, but creates tremendous pressure applied at the wheel cylinders. A car can then stop quickly even at high speeds. Depending on how much force is applied to the brake pedal, the pressure in a car’s brake lines will typically be in the range of 800 PSI to 2,000 PSI.

Master Cylinder

When to replace the master cylinder?

  • External fluid leaks. There should be no fluid visible on the external surfaces of any portion of the master cylinder or the plastic fluid reservoir.
  • Low, slowly falling, or spongy brake pedal. Faulty internal seals on the piston can cause internal leaks and also seepage of brake fluid into the power assist brake booster. Internal leaks will typically be accompanied by a low pedal, a spongy brake pedal, or a pedal that slowly sinks as you maintain pressure. In all cases, you will experience reduced braking abilities.
  • Discolored brake fluid. No brake fluids, other than those specified for the year, make, and model, are fully compatible with a car’s internal rubber seals in the master cylinder. Discoloration of brake fluid can also occur due to moisture and particulate contaminants in the fluid.
  • Warning lights on the dash. If the brake system warning light illuminates, there are several potential causes but failure of the master cylinder is in the list of causes that would have to be investigated.

How do mechanics replace the brake master cylinder?

  • On vehicles with power brakes, the master cylinder is bolted to the metal housing of the power brake booster. There is usually an electrical plug connecting to a brake fluid level sensor on the master cylinder reservoir and that plug must be disconnected.
  • Once all steel brake lines are disconnected from the master cylinder, the master cylinder is unbolted from the brake booster and removed from the vehicle.
  • The new master cylinder must be bench-bled to expel air from internal passages that contain the piston. Then the new master cylinder is bolted to the brake booster and the brake lines are reattached. The electrical plug for the fluid level sensor is reconnected.
  • Whenever a new master cylinder is installed, brakes lines to wheel positions must be bled to remove air, old fluid and contaminants. If your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes, the mechanic may use a bidirectional scan tool during brake bleeding to actuate the ABS pump, thus ensuring that all air is removed from the complex valving in the ABS system.
  • All brake line connections that were removed during the master cylinder replacement are inspected for any leakage and the vehicle is road tested to ensure normal operation of the brakes.

Is it safe to drive with a master cylinder problem?

No, any fault in the master cylinder, which is part of the braking system creates a safety risk. A fully operational brake system is essential to quickly stopping your car. Driving a vehicle isn’t safe, if the master cylinder is leaking or has other faults, as braking distances might be longer than normal. The braking system on a vehicle is among the most important safety systems and must be fully functional to safely drive your vehicle.

When replacing the master cylinder keep in mind:

  • The master cylinder is only one component of many in a vehicle’s braking system. During replacement of the master cylinder, all vehicle braking system components should be inspected to ensure maximum braking power is available.
  • The amount of friction material remaining on the brake pads and brake shoes should be verified.
  • Brake lines and flexible rubber hoses at each wheel position should be inspected for corrosion and deterioration.
  • The power brake booster should be evaluated to ensure that power assist is working properly.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee

Number of Buick Reatta services completed
77+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Buick MECHANICS
800+
experts on our platform
Yourmechanic was featured in

New York Times NBC CBS Forbes INC Tech Crunch

Learn more about us

Meet some of our expert Buick mechanics

Real customer reviews from Buick owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(7)
Rating Summary
7
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
0

Kiri

21 years of experience
372 reviews
Request Kiri
Kiri
21 years of experience
Request Kiri
by David
Buick Reatta V6-3.8L - Car is not starting - Ambler, Pennsylvania
Good

Chris

23 years of experience
2372 reviews
Request Chris
Chris
23 years of experience
Request Chris
by Marvin
Buick Reatta V6-3.8L - 75 Point Safety Inspection - Corona Del Mar, California
Very impressed with the concept and professionalism of yourmechanic staff.

Joshua

28 years of experience
709 reviews
Request Joshua
Joshua
28 years of experience
Request Joshua
by Susan
Buick Reatta V6-3.8L - 1. passenger side headlight doesn't open, what will it cost fix (INSPECTION of headlight door not opening) - Suisun City, California
finally a mechanic a single woman can trust and be treated with respect...Joshua Floyd put me at ease and answered all my questions without making me feel stupid...when it's time to fix the problems that come my way with my car, I'll be calling and asking for Joshua to help me fix it...

Miguel

22 years of experience
273 reviews
Request Miguel
Miguel
22 years of experience
Request Miguel
by John
Buick Reatta V6-3.8L - Battery - Ramsey, New Jersey
Nice gentleman. Work was done correctly.

Excellent Rating

(7)
Rating Summary
7
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
Number of Buick Reatta services completed
77+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Buick MECHANICS
800+
experts on our platform
Yourmechanic was featured in

New York Times NBC CBS Forbes INC Tech Crunch

Learn more about us

Recent articles & questions

B1913 OBD-II Trouble Code: Air Bag Driver/Passenger Circuit Short to Ground
B1913 means there is a circuit error in the driver and front passenger airbags, likely due to damaged circuit or other electrical component.
Read more
How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Car Title in Idaho
Titles Titles – they’re crucial parts of vehicle ownership. In fact, this certificate is really all there is that proves you’re the owner of the car. The problem is that titles can easily be lost or misplaced. They can also...
Read more
How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Car Title in Nevada
With With so many papers, forms, and cards to keep track of it's only natural that we lose items from time to time. If that lost item happens to be your car title then obviously you've got a bigger issue...
Read more

How do I call back?

The call back feature allows you to dial the number that your phone most recently received as an incoming call. To use this feature, follow these steps: 1. Press the Phone Send button. 2. Following the tone, say “Call”. 3....
Read more

my car is misfiring

The DME is a possible failure for the misfire for your 2002 BMW M3. A complete pinpoint test for the codes would need to be done to rule out anything like coils (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ignition-coil-replacement) or plugs (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/spark-plugs-replacement). Your shop replaced the...
Read more

Po741 code

Check to be sure that the transmission fluid level is correct, especially that the level is not too high or low. Also, check the condition of the fluid. Apart from that, the list of "typical" causes of P0741 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0741-obd-ii-trouble-code-torque-converter-clutch-circuit-performance-or-stuck-off-by-jamahl-walker) includes:...
Read more
  1. Home
  2. Estimates
  3. Buick
  4. Reatta
  5. Brake Master Cylinder Replacement

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com

Read FAQ
GET A QUOTE