GMC C3500 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 C3500 Brake Master Cylinder Replacement is $232 with $92 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
1999 GMC C3500V8-7.4L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$530.52	Shop/Dealer Price$592.85 - $763.64
1999 GMC C3500V8-6.5L Turbo Diesel	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$512.50	Shop/Dealer Price$571.30 - $739.44
1990 GMC C3500V8-6.2L Diesel	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$516.98	Shop/Dealer Price$580.41 - $762.76
1995 GMC C3500V8-6.5L Turbo Diesel	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$512.50	Shop/Dealer Price$571.35 - $739.52
1998 GMC C3500V8-7.4L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$512.50	Shop/Dealer Price$574.29 - $744.68
1990 GMC C3500V8-7.4L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$516.98	Shop/Dealer Price$580.68 - $763.23
1991 GMC C3500V8-5.7L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$516.98	Shop/Dealer Price$580.44 - $762.81
1994 GMC C3500V8-6.5L Turbo Diesel	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$512.50	Shop/Dealer Price$571.35 - $739.52

Show example GMC C3500 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

(16)

Rating Summary

15

0

0

1

0

15

0

0

1

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

AL

13 years of experience

245 reviews

AL

13 years of experience

by Kelli

GMC C3500 V8-5.7L - Serpentine/Drive Belt - Denver, Colorado

Al did an awesome job working on my truck - both times he came here. Not only was he quick and polite, he went out of his way to teach me about the engine and tighten bolts/fix little things here-and-there. He made absolutely sure it was running great before he left, and I really appreciated all the work he did and his professionalism. Thank you Al - I'll be recommending you to my friends!

Cesar

10 years of experience

292 reviews

Cesar

10 years of experience

by John

GMC C3500 V8-5.7L - Oil Change - Kirkland, Washington

Absolutely great experience from start to finish with Cesar. Very knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything needed for my vehicle. I’ve been recommending all my friends, family, and coworkers to schedule their repairs thru your company. Keep up the good work!:)

Andrew

15 years of experience

141 reviews

Andrew

15 years of experience

by Shawn

GMC C3500 V8-5.7L - Car is not starting - Gig Harbor, Washington

He took the time and attention needed to diagnose the problem and took the time to explain to me the problem.

Jose

18 years of experience

433 reviews

Jose

18 years of experience

by Martin

GMC C3500 V8-5.7L - Car is stalling - Portland, Oregon

Excellent Rating

(16)

Rating Summary

15

0

0

1

0

15

0

0

1

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

P2328 OBD-II Trouble Code: Ignition Coil J Primary Control Circuit High

P2328 P2328 code definition Ignition Coil J Primary Control Circuit High What the P2328 code means P2328 is an OBD-II generic code for the Ignition Coil K Primary Control Circuit High to the Engine Control Module (ECM). This means the...

Understanding Runaway Truck Ramps

Runaway truck ramps slow down and stop trucks that have lost control of their downhill speed.

Infiniti Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Car Program

Drivers Drivers who are in the market for a used Infiniti vehicle may want to check out cars under their certified pre-owned program. Many manufacturers have a certified pre-owned (CPO) program, and each one is set up differently. Read on...

Door not opening from the inside

There are two most likely possibilities, one is the linkage from the inner door handle to the door latch has become detached or that the door latch assembly is faulty. To determine if the linkage or latch is the issue...

RPM sticking during acceleration on a 2004 Fusion

That thing has an electronic throttle. It's called "drive-by-wire." Basically, you are actually stepping on a computer mouse and the computer mouse sends electricity to the computer. The computer then sends the electricity to the throttle stepper motor and the...

will a temperture switch cause an engine not to start?

The engine coolant temperature sensor sill not cause the engine to die or not start, but can cause the fuel system to go full rich. The engine dies when getting hot is most likely due to an ignition spark loss...

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