Fiat 500 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 Fiat 500 Brake Master Cylinder Replacement is $396 with $214 for parts and $182 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2013 Fiat 500L4-1.4L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$779.92	Shop/Dealer Price$925.69 - $1351.66
2014 Fiat 500L4-1.4L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$767.31	Shop/Dealer Price$910.60 - $1334.72
2017 Fiat 500L4-1.4L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$2459.27	Shop/Dealer Price$3025.59 - $4718.70
2015 Fiat 500Electric	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$2435.35	Shop/Dealer Price$2995.69 - $4670.86
2012 Fiat 500L4-1.4L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$767.31	Shop/Dealer Price$912.70 - $1338.39
2014 Fiat 500Electric	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$767.31	Shop/Dealer Price$910.83 - $1335.12
2012 Fiat 500L4-1.4L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$767.31	Shop/Dealer Price$910.66 - $1334.82
2015 Fiat 500L4-1.4L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$767.31	Shop/Dealer Price$910.64 - $1334.78

Show example Fiat 500 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 Fiat mechanics

Real customer reviews from Fiat owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(361)

Rating Summary

347

7

2

1

4

347

7

2

1

4

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Rohon

49 years of experience

147 reviews

Rohon

49 years of experience

by Grace

Fiat 500 L4-1.4L - Check Engine Light is on - West Palm Beach, Florida

Yes,Rohan was excellent.He explained everything he was going to do to get at the problem.He was very thorough.

Brandon

19 years of experience

318 reviews

Request Brandon

Brandon

19 years of experience

Request Brandon

by Tara

Fiat 500 L4-1.4L - Oil Change - Fuquay Varina, North Carolina

Brandon was great! He made everything easy to understand and let me know what I needed to do next.

Marko

7 years of experience

24 reviews

Marko

7 years of experience

by NATHALIE

Fiat 500 L4-1.4L Turbo - Oil Change - La Jolla, California

Super helpful. Went above and beyond. Made me feel comfortable and his knowledge made me feel good about the work done on my car.

Joshua

28 years of experience

709 reviews

Joshua

28 years of experience

by Andrea

Fiat 500 L4-1.4L - Oil Change - Berkeley, California

he's awesome

Excellent Rating

(361)

Rating Summary

347

7

2

1

4

347

7

2

1

4

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

How Are Sensors Used to Improve a Car’s Performance?

Modern vehicles utilize a series of car sensors to improve performance and reduce emissions. The oxygen sensor helps reduce tailpipe emissions.

How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Car Title in Massachusetts

As As a vehicle owner you have a title that proves the vehicle is yours and you are the registered owner. Over time it's not unheard of for this title to get lost, damaged, or even stolen. This can be...

How to Keep Your Vehicle Safe From Theft

With With over a million cars stolen each year in the US, vehicle theft has become a concern for vehicle owners. Fortunately, you can increase the chances of keeping your vehicle safe from theft by taking a few simple steps,...

I have a front differential leak and I hear a whining noise when accelerating or decelerating.

Hi there. The whining noise from the differential could be the pinion gears being worn out or the bearings to the cage could be worn out. As far as replacing the oil in the differential, it is best to replace...

Oil leaked heavily out of my car while driving home while making a revved up noise.

Hi there. Check the engine for any oil leaks that are visible to you. Check the front seal, the oil pan, the oil filter, the oil drain plug (make sure its tight), the valve cover gaskets, the oil cooler lines,...

2009 Ford edge randomly overheats. Figured out cooling fan isn't working. Replaced and it is still not working. What next?

Hi Amber. It's quite possible that while jump starting the vehicle, an electrical relay may have been damaged. The first thing I would check are the electrical relays and fuses that power the radiator fans to see if they are...

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