logo

Audi Q3 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

(12)

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

(12)

Brake Master Cylinder Replacement Service

How much does a Brake Master Cylinder Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Audi Q3 Brake Master Cylinder Replacement is $289 with $149 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2017 Audi Q3L4-2.0L TurboService typeBrake Master Cylinder ReplacementEstimate$452.12Shop/Dealer Price$530.00 - $755.54
2015 Audi Q3L4-2.0L TurboService typeBrake Master Cylinder ReplacementEstimate$808.35Shop/Dealer Price$977.15 - $1476.33
2016 Audi Q3L4-2.0L TurboService typeBrake Master Cylinder ReplacementEstimate$808.35Shop/Dealer Price$977.19 - $1476.40
2018 Audi Q3L4-2.0L TurboService typeBrake Master Cylinder ReplacementEstimate$486.91Shop/Dealer Price$563.60 - $788.25
Show example Audi Q3 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 Audi Q3 services completed
132+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Audi 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 Audi mechanics

Real customer reviews from Audi owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(12)
Rating Summary
12
0
0
0
0
12
0
0
0
0

Mazyar

20 years of experience
587 reviews
Request Mazyar
Mazyar
20 years of experience
Request Mazyar
by Michael
Audi Q3 L4-2.0L Turbo - Radiator - Marietta, Georgia
Great work

Gustavo

18 years of experience
575 reviews
Request Gustavo
Gustavo
18 years of experience
Request Gustavo
by Elida
Audi Q3 L4-2.0L Turbo - Brake Pads Replacement (Front) - San Antonio, Texas
Gustavo, was on time, professional and completed the work in less than the expected time frame. The service even ended up being less than the original quote. This could not have been a better experience. We will continue to utilize Gustavo and Your Mechanic in the future.

Corey

13 years of experience
511 reviews
Request Corey
Corey
13 years of experience
Request Corey
by Tahishia
Audi Q3 L4-2.0L Turbo - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Charlotte, North Carolina
He was great !!

Chuck

18 years of experience
464 reviews
Request Chuck
Chuck
18 years of experience
Request Chuck
by Matt
Audi Q3 L4-2.0L Turbo - Alternator - Dallas, Texas
As far as I can tell, Chuck did a great job and was friendly throughout the process.

Excellent Rating

(12)
Rating Summary
12
0
0
0
0
12
0
0
0
0
Number of Audi Q3 services completed
132+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Audi 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

How Long Does a Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (MAP Sensor) Last?
Most Most car owners are unaware about just how important their fuel and air mixture is to the performance that they enjoy. Without a fully regulated air and fuel system, your car will not be able to run as it...
Read more
C1104 OBD-II Trouble Code: Traction Control Active Lamp - Circuit Short to Battery
Trouble code C1104 means the Engine Control Unit (ECU) has registered a short circuit issue in the traction control lamp.
Read more
How Long Does a Parking Brake Warning Switch Last?
Your Your car is equipped with a parking brake that helps prevent the car from rolling when parked on a slope. This is a separate system from your primary brakes, and you must manually engage and disengage it each time....
Read more

Is the BMW 128i reliable, especially because of its 6-cylinder engine?

Hi, thanks for writing in. Yes, the N52 engine is, generally speaking, a well-developed engine; less complex, and more maintenance-free engine than the newer turbocharged engines available in the 1-series. Make sure the Valvetronic gear (variable valve timing) has NO...
Read more

Packing power. Looking to add more off-road performance.

If you want to add some more power easily to your vehicle I would recommend an intake system or an exhaust system or both. The intake system and the exhaust system are two of the easiest ways to add power...
Read more

My car turns on and reverse but when i put in drive it does not move. What can that be?

Hi there. This could be multiple problems ranging from issues with shift linkage, to shift solenoids and internal transmission component failure. In most cases, a problem like this will trigger an error code that can be downloaded by a professional...
Read more
  1. Home
  2. Estimates
  3. Audi
  4. Q3
  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 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com

Read FAQ
GET A QUOTE