Motorcycle Master Cylinders & Parts

The hydraulic brake system starts with your motorcycle’s master cylinder. To start, the brake fluid is added through the master cylinder reservoir. More importantly, though, the master cylinder converts the force of the brake lever into hydraulic pressure. That pressure is used to operates the brakes on the other end. When there is a problem in the system, your braking ability can be greatly diminished or gone altogether.

Fortunately, motorcycle master cylinders are fairly easy to fix or even replace. Rebuild kits include everything you need to get the job done. That includes the piston, springs, seals and other hardware needed. If you’d rather start from scratch or just want to change the aesthetic, a complete aftermarket master cylinder is what you’re after.

So how do you know when your master cylinder needs to be serviced? The easiest symptom is if you notice it leaking brake fluid. Another symptom is if your brakes feel spongey when you apply the lever. If the brake fluid is not clear or appears contaminated, the master cylinder probably needs to be serviced.