Mazda MX-5 Miata 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 Mazda MX-5 Miata Brake Master Cylinder Replacement is $260 with $120 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2008 Mazda MX-5 MiataL4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$394.72	Shop/Dealer Price$458.25 - $640.74
2017 Mazda MX-5 MiataL4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$745.63	Shop/Dealer Price$897.37 - $1348.48
2012 Mazda MX-5 MiataL4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$510.51	Shop/Dealer Price$603.50 - $878.28
2006 Mazda MX-5 MiataL4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$385.71	Shop/Dealer Price$447.50 - $628.68
2014 Mazda MX-5 MiataL4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$510.51	Shop/Dealer Price$604.97 - $880.86
2009 Mazda MX-5 MiataL4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$385.71	Shop/Dealer Price$447.64 - $628.93
2016 Mazda MX-5 MiataL4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$745.63	Shop/Dealer Price$897.41 - $1348.55
2013 Mazda MX-5 MiataL4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$510.51	Shop/Dealer Price$603.50 - $878.28

Show example Mazda MX-5 Miata 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 Mazda mechanics

Real customer reviews from Mazda owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(142)

Rating Summary

138

2

0

1

1

138

2

0

1

1

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Zackery

6 years of experience

52 reviews

Request Zackery

Zackery

6 years of experience

Request Zackery

by MIKE

Mazda MX-5 Miata L4-2.0L - Battery - Everett, Washington

npne

Victor

36 years of experience

230 reviews

Victor

36 years of experience

by Pranab

Mazda MX-5 Miata L4-2.0L - 45,000 Miles Maintenance Service - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Victor is a great mechanic. He services all my vehicles.

Tom

27 years of experience

1 reviews

Tom

27 years of experience

by James

Mazda MX-5 Miata L4-2.0L - Battery - Elgin, Texas

Excellent and professional job. Very satisfied.

Casey

20 years of experience

61 reviews

Casey

20 years of experience

by John

Mazda MX-5 Miata L4-2.0L - Oil Pressure Sensor - Sugar Land, Texas

Casey showed up on time and did great work in a filthy environment (oil leak). He had to do some extra work because of some very hard to reach parts that had been incorrectly installed by a previous mechanic. I am very happy with his work and conduct.

Excellent Rating

(142)

Rating Summary

138

2

0

1

1

138

2

0

1

1

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

Symptoms of Bad or Failing Vacuum Hoses

Common signs include the Check Engine Light coming on, the engine not running smoothly, and the engine losing power or not starting.

Can Slamming Car Doors Lead to Rattling Noises in the Door?

Though Though most people seem to believe that car doors require a resounding push, slam, and bang, the reality is that all you need to do is close the door gently for an active latch. That is the way doors...

What Does Ignition Timing Mean?

Timing Timing – it has a couple of different meanings when applied to your car’s engine. One of the most critical is ignition timing (not to be confused with engine timing). Ignition timing refers to when spark is created during...

Wheels locked

Hello, from what you describe, I think you had one of the air springs in you suspension give out. Most Range Rovers have air suspension at all four corners. When one of the air springs leaks, the car will usually...

Misfiring

Engine misfires can be caused by many different problems and are generally caused by either a spark or fuel issue or in some cases, a combination of both. Spark related problems generally will result from things like ignition coils, crankshaft...

My Nissan Frontier truck is overheating. The smog technician said it needs a new thermostat. Would you like to take a look, give m

Hello, thank you for writing in. If the overheating is only happening when you are at a stop, then you want to focus on the water pump and the cooling fans first. While the thermostat can cause overheating when it...

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