GMC C1500 Brake Master Cylinder Replacement Costs

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

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

Brake Master Cylinder Replacement Service

How much does a Brake Master Cylinder Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a GMC C1500 Brake Master Cylinder Replacement is $215 with $75 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
1995 GMC C1500V8-6.5L Turbo Diesel	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$460.80	Shop/Dealer Price$505.70 - $624.20
1995 GMC C1500V8-5.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$442.78	Shop/Dealer Price$484.15 - $600.00
1996 GMC C1500V8-5.7L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$442.78	Shop/Dealer Price$484.20 - $600.09
1992 GMC C1500V8-5.7L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$516.98	Shop/Dealer Price$580.41 - $762.76
1998 GMC C1500V6-4.3L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$442.78	Shop/Dealer Price$487.14 - $605.24
1996 GMC C1500V8-5.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$442.78	Shop/Dealer Price$484.48 - $600.57
1999 GMC C1500V8-5.7L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$442.78	Shop/Dealer Price$484.23 - $600.14
1995 GMC C1500V8-6.5L Diesel	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$854.26	Shop/Dealer Price$998.55 - $1423.04

Show example GMC C1500 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

Meet some of our expert GMC mechanics

Real customer reviews from GMC owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(90)

Rating Summary

86

4

0

0

0

86

4

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Luis

3 years of experience

32 reviews

Luis

3 years of experience

by Darryl Hart

C1500 1996 - Fuel Pump - Richmond, VA

Very professional and personal 

Luis

3 years of experience

32 reviews

Luis

3 years of experience

by Darryl Hart

C1500 1996 - Fuel Filter - Richmond, VA

Very professional and personal 

Gustavo

15 years of experience

303 reviews

Request Gustavo

Gustavo

15 years of experience

Request Gustavo

by Carlos Elizondo

C1500 1991 - Bleed Brakes - San Antonio, TX

Gustavo was on time exactly. He called me to let me know he was on the way. Repaired the items on my quote. He diagnosed the rest of the Truck on his 50 Pont inspection. Showed us the little things we needed to address. Shortly my 1990 GMC will be working great again. He's fantastic, I'll use him again.

Bryant

8 years of experience

568 reviews

Bryant

8 years of experience

by Shandra Bucher

C1500 1995 - Water Pump - Indianapolis, IN

Great service again

Excellent Rating

(90)

Rating Summary

86

4

0

0

0

86

4

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

P0347 OBD-II Trouble Code: Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Low Input (Bank 2)

P0347 P0347 code definition The P0347 Trouble Code refers to an issue with the camshaft position sensor A where the circuit input in bank 2 is too low. What the P0347 code means This is a generic code regarding the...

10 Best Stores to Buy Auto Parts in Chicago, Illinois

Automotive technicians rely on auto parts stores to add and replace car parts. The best auto parts shop in Chicago is AutoZone.

How to Get a Colorado Driver's Permit

Colorado Colorado has strict laws regarding driver’s license eligibility. All drivers in Colorado must obtain a learner’s permit, and drive with that permit, while they are under 21 years old. In order to obtain a driver’s permit, there are certain...

Clinking sound when put in drive, noise over 50 mph

The Toyota Previa has a unique design in that the engine is mounted under the front seats, and as a result, uses flexible couplings connected to a shaft that drives the vehicle's engine components such as the power steering, A/C...

Ignition problems

Hello. If you are losing battery power to particular circuits then most of the time this is caused by a bad ground connection, a failing battery cable (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-cable-replacement), or it may be a bad transmission position sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-position-sensor-switch-replacement). It is...

How do I disable /remove onstar system from my truck

Hi there: You should contact your GMC dealership to ask about this, as their ONSTAR program and accessories are often tied into the ECU and could impact the overall operation of some security features on your Yukon. Cutting wires without...

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