Jeep Guy

since the cold weather has arrived my brakes are acting funny. I had to fill my brake fluid resevoir a few days ago but my brake pedal still needs to be pressed hard to stop. is this a sign of bad master cylinder? I am not leaking brake fluid. any help?

kswiencki

well if your losing fluid, it means you have a leak somewhere..... wheel cylinders?

dejr2000

How much fluid did you have to add? Low fluid level can be an indicator of worn pads and or shoes also. If you have to continue adding fluid you have a leak. If pedal does "go to floor" I would say master cylinder is likely.

dyte2004

i agree if you have to add fluid then you do have a leak take the back wheel and drum off and have a look at the cylinders

Skater28

If you are loosing fluid don't see a leak at the calipers or w/cyls., your master cyl. could be leaking fluid out of the back into the brake booster. Not uncommon. If so you might see some fluid coming out between the master and the booster.

89cherokeeL

check the booster, turn off the jeep and press the pedal once, release it press and hold it a second time , if you slowly lose pressure its your booster, check all your bleeder valves and check the cylinders inside the drum, if you end up comming to the conclusion thats its the master cylinder be sure to bench bleed it before you put it in

dar83

i just went through something similar, ended up being a wheel cylinder. I didn't see the leak until i refilled and checked everywhere the lines ran. only a $9 part in the end. So its worth pulling the tires and checking

FrankSchmeiser

there is a good chance that it is both the master cylinder or the slave cylinder both went out on me once and it sounds identical to the troubles that you are having.

Jeep Guy

how much on average does this cost to have replaced?

89cherokeeL

doing it yourself the parts are relatively cheap , parts and labor at a shop is no bueno

ckysodkorn_xj

when you press the brake do you hear like a sucking sound? could be your brake booster aswell.

Jeep Guy

update: the couple of days I wasn't driving the jeep much and this morning is when I noticed the pedal going to the floor. I checked the brake fluid and noticed it needed to be filled. I filled it to where it needed to be. today after driving it for a bunch the brakes seemed to respond much better. I would say normal. so here's the question. we just moved back to Michigan from Texas about a week ago. is it possible the cold weather caused my brake lines to lose pressure thus having lower level of brake fluid and me needing to top it off? I am not leaking anywhere I have checked that all out.

dejr2000

No, doesn't work that way. Did you pull wheels and rear brake drums and check rear wheel cylinders?

truckntractorhick

maybe air in the system somewhere?

Jeep Guy

no leaks but worn pads and shoes. looks like I'll be doing my brakes in the cold. thx all.