The time to know if your brakes are going bad is NOT when you go to stop at that red light or on the parkway when someone suddenly swerves in front of you.  It's not always "just" brake pads either, your brake master cylinder could be an issue. How do you recognize the signs that you have a real problem with your brake master cylinder and just what is it?   Here atGlenn's Auto & Truck Repair in Petaluma, CA we not only have the answers, but we also put together a service schedule for you and keep an eye on issues based on your driving habits, vehicle type and your description of issues you are having.  We treat your car, truck or SUV as if it were ours keeping you informed of issues we find so you can get them fixed "before" there are larger repair bills so you can keep your vehicle Newer - Longer!   Below is everything you need to look for and tips on your brake master cylinder.

Your brake master cylinder is an integral part of your brake system. When one fails, some odd symptoms may arise, and it may be difficult to diagnose. Here’s some information to help you decide if yours has given out on you.

No Brakes.  We never want our Petaluma drivers to experience this issue as it is critical to life and limb, but it is the most obvious symptom of a bad master cylinder.  It is a rare condition - the master cylinder is essentially the hydraulic pump pressurizing your brake lines with input from the pedal, and on anything made in the last half-century is partitioned internally. This means typically either your front or back brakes will go out, but not usually both at once. ANYTIME you find yourself with brakes that are not working 100% of the time to your satisfaction - if you are concerned at all about how they are performing, we need to look at it.  If they are worse than that call us to discuss it as we don't want you driving a vehicle with bad brakes.  The safety of our Petaluma drivers is exceptionally important to all of us here at Glenn's Auto & Truck Repair.  

Poor Braking.   Since usually only the brakes at the front or back will go out at a time, you will likely notice your car doesn’t stop as well as it should. Inadequate braking can cause unwanted accidents, minor and major, so it's important that you're able to identify the problem and strive to solve the problem before those accidents are able to occur. If only half your brakes are working, the master cylinder is likely to blame. 

Spongy Brakes.  If the fluid is leaking past the seals inside the cylinder, the pedal may feel firm for a moment but won’t hold steady; it’ll feel spongy and keep sinking towards the floor.  When a master cylinder begins to fail, sometimes the brakes will feel fine one second and lose braking power the next giving you this effect.

Leaks.  If you notice brake fluid leaking from the back of the cylinder against the firewall or brake booster, or can see it leaking down the firewall on the inside of the car, it’s definitely time to have the master cylinder replaced. If it’s leaking, it’ll run out of fluid eventually, leaving you without at least half your brakes. Plus, it lets air enter the system, causing the brakes to feel spongy as well. Sometimes the pedal will regain firmness if you pump it a couple of times, but it typically won’t last for more than a few seconds.

If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, have one of our technicians take a look. Your safety is very important to us, and we want to make sure your vehicle has the utmost reliability when it's on the road. We’ll diagnose and repair your bad master cylinder, and have your vehicle stopping like it’s supposed to in no time. 

No matter your repair or maintenance needs, we’ve got you covered. For the best service shop in Petaluma, CA, call or stop by Glenn's Auto & Truck Repair today where we treat you like family. 

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Thank you for visiting Glenn's Auto & Truck Repair in Petaluma, CA. Count on our automotive repair technicians to keep your car, truck, suv, or van on the roads longer and safer.

Schedule your appointment today CALL: (707) 762-4360