Thea's Scrapyard

What is a master cylinder and how does it work?

• Device that converts the brake pedals force into hydraulic pressure used to activate the brake calipers 

• The brake master cylinder is typically connected to the brake pedal through a push rod

• When the brake pedal is pressed, the push rod pushes the piston inside the master cylinder, forcing brake fluid through the brake lines (brake hoses) and into the brake callipers, inducing pressure on the calliper pistons

• Calipers press the brake pads against the brake disks (rotors), causing friction and slowing down the rotation of the wheels

• As the brake pads press against the rotors, the brake fluid is forced back into the brake master cylinders reservoir, completing the cycle

• Inside the master cylinder are usually two separate chambers; one for the front wheels and one for the rear

• When the brake pedal is depressed, both chambers are pressurised simultaneously

• The MS15 master cylinder was the Willwood GS Compact Integral Master Cylinder

  • Stroke of 1.25in

  • Need to find what angle of pedal movement translates into 1.25in of master cylinder piston movement

Other notes:

• Pedal ratio: the mechanical advantage created by a pedal system

  • Divide the distance from the pedal pivot point to the center of the pedal pad by the distance from he pivot point to the master cylinder pushrod

  • Higher pedal ratio means a smaller force on pedals creates a larger force a the breaks

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