Part of the braking system, a brake slave cylinder is an assembly housing a piston that compresses and releases the brake shoes or pads in hydraulic brakes. A car’s braking system has multiple slave cylinders. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the brake master cylinder exerts pressure on the hydraulic fluid or brake fluid. This pressurized fluid flows through the brake lines to the slave cylinder pistons. They push on the brake pads to rub on the rotors, stopping or slowing down the car’s wheels. In vehicles with drum brakes, the slave cylinder may be called the wheel cylinder.
If your slave cylinder is damaged, it likely will allow the hydraulic fluid or brake fluid to leak. This will result in decreased braking force, including a possible loss of braking. If you’ve got a soft brake pedal or the pedal sinks to the floor, a brake slave cylinder could be the reason. The price to replace the part begins at about $75 before labor.
See also: What Are New Brakes? What Are Brake Rotors?
