My car had two immediate problems. Car wasn't charging. I fixed the alternator, which I found was also bad after taking it apart, but didn't fix the problem. After that, i counted myself lucky that i hadn't just wasted the money for an alternator when that wasn't the problem, and decided to have a mechanic at least tell me the problem so i could fix it.

While it was there, i told him to check the second problem, poor brake pressure. He said the master cylinder needs replacing. I have next to no tools. Something like a jack, a complete set of wrenches and ratchets, and thats it. That sounds like enough to change the master cylinder, and i have plenty of time, but I wanted to make sure. Over the weekend I went to Murray's and saw they have a master cylinder in stock for just under 20 bucks. Am I correct in my assumption that it isn't worth paying someone nearly $100 in labor to do this easy job? I'm not unfamiliar with basic brake repair, but have never done this before. How involved is the job? Is it just changing the master cylinder, adding fluid, bleeding lines?

Thanks guys...

 

Well, actually, I've never seen a brand new MC for less than $80. Is what you saw a 'rebuilt' unit? If so... pass. I've read many posts here about rebuild MCs not working for very long if at all.
If they're going to charge $100 just for labor, I'd say spend it on the new MC and brake fluid.
You can definitely do it yourself with your wrenches. I just did it last week. Just suck out most of the mucky fluid from the MC, unscrew the brake lines, unbolt the MC from the booster, bench bleed the new MC, bolt new MC to booster, hook brake lines back up, then bleed all 4 calipers. Should be easy if your calipers have no problems.


[Modified by Marc78, 10:10 AM 5/29/2002]

 

It's never cheaper to have somone else work on your car.
You can buy the parts, the tools to do it and still be cheaper...

And I agree $20 does sound too cheap for a new unit.

 

Buy me lunch and I'll do it with you. Seriously. Weekends are good for me and I only live about 30 minutes from you. Let me know. You may just need your brakes bleed, we can run new fluid through em in about an hour and see what happens. There are a few other things that might be causing it but that is a good starting point. Shoot me an IM and we'll talk.

 

Fevre, are there homes for sale on your block :lol:. That's great your willing to help someone out like that, guys like you are what this forum are really about.

 

I just need to find someone elses car to work or I'll invent problems with mine. :lol: I know how much it sucks working on cars without the right tools. I just hope he doesn't have the 'caliper sucking air' problem. I had that and bleed my brakes 10 times before I discovered what was happening. Very :mad and very :confused: .

 

I guess you can condider me the Lars of the east with half the tools (if I am lucky) and even less of the knowledge. :jester

 

If you do decide to do the MC, and if you don't have a wrench open on the end to go over the brake line, it is good thing to have, as corrosion is a distinct possibility.

 

If you are going to do it yourself make sure you use Fitting wrenches on your brake lines. :yesnod: If you use a standard wrench you will strip out your brake line nuts. :eek:

 

Yup. $20 is way cheap for a master cylinder and no car of mine will EVER have a rebuilt MC put on it. I had a machanic (old neighbor) put on on my old Bonneville a few years ago. Go to get off the freeway, pedal goes to the floor. OH poopie!! Pumped the brakes and managed to stop. got home, parked it. Got a bench bled MC from him and installed it in my garage.

The MC install is SIMPLE. We're talking pop off the brake lines, a couple of nuts holding the MC on the car. Off comes the MC. Reverse the process to put the new one in. The hardest part is bench bleeding it before you put it in and then bleeding the brakes.

If you need help, I'm just out in Howell.

 

Yeah, I had a new power booster put on along with a rebuit MS and it quit about two days later. Always get new parts for the vette. :cheers: