GMC K1500 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 K1500 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
1998 GMC K1500V8-5.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$460.80	Shop/Dealer Price$505.70 - $624.20
1997 GMC K1500V8-6.5L Turbo Diesel	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$442.78	Shop/Dealer Price$484.15 - $600.00
1994 GMC K1500V8-6.5L Diesel	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$442.78	Shop/Dealer Price$484.20 - $600.09
1991 GMC K1500V8-5.7L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$437.20	Shop/Dealer Price$480.69 - $603.20
1991 GMC K1500V8-5.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$437.20	Shop/Dealer Price$483.49 - $608.10
1990 GMC K1500V6-4.3L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$437.20	Shop/Dealer Price$480.95 - $603.67
1999 GMC K1500V8-5.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$442.78	Shop/Dealer Price$484.23 - $600.14
1990 GMC K1500V8-6.2L Diesel	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$516.98	Shop/Dealer Price$580.41 - $762.76

Show example GMC K1500 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

(42)

Rating Summary

41

1

0

0

0

41

1

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Andrew

16 years of experience

657 reviews

Andrew

16 years of experience

by Erik

GMC K1500 V8-5.7L - Service Battery/cables - Camas, Washington

Andrew arrived on time and listened to the issue going on with my truck. He immediately went about confirming my suspicions of the battery cables being corroded or damaged by checking the voltage at the battery and then at the starter. He thoroughly cleaned the terminal ends which prompted the engine to engage, but not quite start. He then suggested I pressurize the fuel pump and showed me what to do, which then allowed the vehicle to start right away. He then performed a further check of the engine fluids and made recommendations of what to address next. He was very easy going, polite, professional and competent in his work. I would definitely recommend him.

Scott

39 years of experience

607 reviews

Scott

39 years of experience

by Adrian

GMC K1500 V8-5.7L - Interior Door Handle Replacement (Driver Side Front) - Denver, Colorado

My Dad has dealt with Scott on both of our car fixes. He has said that he is professional and courteous. Answers their questions and gives good feed back. I would recommend this guy for your work that needs to be done on your vehicle. Thanks Scott we appreciate you Sir.

Richard

14 years of experience

601 reviews

Request Richard

Richard

14 years of experience

Request Richard

by Justin

GMC K1500 V8-5.7L - Distributor Rotor and Cap - Las Vegas, Nevada

Richard showed up a little early which was great and the app gave me a an alert when he was enroute. He was very friendly and did a great job fixing the issue. I will be using him for any future work I need on my vehicle.

Pardeep

22 years of experience

1277 reviews

Request Pardeep

Pardeep

22 years of experience

Request Pardeep

by Mike

GMC K1500 V6-4.3L - Car is not starting - Los Gatos, California

Excellent service!

Excellent Rating

(42)

Rating Summary

41

1

0

0

0

41

1

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Proportioning/Combination Valve

If your rear brakes are locking up, especially on wet surfaces, you should have a mechanic inspect the proportioning/combination valve.

10 Best Stores to Buy Auto Parts in New Bedford, Massachusetts

Automotive technicians rely on auto parts stores to add and replace car parts. The best auto parts shop in New Bedford is Ray’s of New Bedford.

Disabled Driver Laws and Permits in South Carolina

In In South Carolina, people who have disabilities are entitled to certain privileges when it comes to parking. These privileges override those of other motorists, and are mandated by law. Summary of South Carolina disabled driver laws In South Carolina,...

Car starting intermittently.

Intermittent no start conditions can be among the most difficult to diagnose because of their irregular nature. There are two things that come to mind. Number one: A faulty starter will cause a condition similar to what you are describing....

Water Damage Radio

It would be helpful to know how the radio got water damaged, and if the rest of the dashboard was wet.There are other modules and components that are below the radio that could have been damaged.The radio make and model...

After warm up I accelerate and it makes a rattling noise only when I'm pressing the accelerate

Hello there, thank you for asking about your 1999 Ford Mustang. You may have a defective mass airflow sensor. The sensor may not set a code either. The problem is the sensor may tell the computer you are at 10,000...

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