mx5cartalk.com

So, I installed the little bleeders yesterday and bleed the brakes/clutch. While doing so I realised that the master cylinder has a leak and the paint on the metal surfaces underneath are all bubbled. I am thinking that I will put a new master cylinder in rather than try and rebuild it.

Some questions:

Are the master cylinders on later model MX-5s compatiable with my 1992 model and will I gain any benefit from putting one on, ie are later ones bigger and would this improve brake performance?

Is the MX-5 master cylinder also the same as on other Mazda or Ford or other maufacturers models? I am asking because in my experience the exact same part came be quite cheaper when bought say from a ford dealer

TIA
J

Actually I'm now not sure if it is the master cylinder or the brake booster (servo). There is paint missing on the brake booster below the point where the master cylinder joins it.

J

Brake fluid doesn't go into the booster at all. What happens is that there is a seal at the back of the master cylinder, and when that leaks, the fluid comes out between the join of the master and the booster.

So you'd have to change the master, and then clean out the brake fluid from inside the booster if need be.

But you should just get the master cylinder that matches your calipers. If you get a cylinder that is bigger, you will have an abnormally short pedal travel.

New master cylinder is very expensive AFAIK, in my opinion you are probably better off having the old one sleeved and kitted which should make it as good as new, and last longer as they put a stainless sleeve through as opposed to the std alloy cylinder.