LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone
Home >> Chrysler >> 2003 >> Intrepid ES, 3.5 V >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 8 (Disc Brakes) >> Description & Operation >> Master Cylinder

Master Cylinder

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Dodge Intrepid, 2002 Chrysler Intrepid, 2002 Chrysler Concorde, and 2002 Chrysler 300M. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

There are 2 different master cylinders used on this vehicle. Vehicles equipped with ABS and traction control use a center-port master cylinder. A conventional vent-port master cylinder is used on vehicles not equipped with ABS. Both master cylinders appear the same externally except for the side of their outlet ports. The ABS master cylinder has outlet ports differing in size; the primary port is machined to accept a 12 mm tube nut, while the secondary port is machined for a 10 mm tube nut. Both the primary and secondary ports on a non-ABS master cylinder are machined to accept 12 mm tube nuts. The master cylinder is mounted to the face of the power brake booster on the left side of the dash. See Fig 1 . It has the brake fluid reservoir mounted on top and the brake fluid level switch is mounted in the side of the reservoir. When the brake pedal is pressed, the master cylinder primary and secondary pistons apply brake pressure through the chassis brake lines and proportioning valves to each brake assembly. The brake fluid reservoir supplies the brake hydraulic system with the necessary fluid to operate properly. The primary and secondary outlet tubes of the master cylinder are connected to a junction block on non-ABS equipped vehicles. The tube from the master cylinder primary outlet port connects to the inboard port of the junction block, and the tube from the secondary outlet port connects to the outboard port of the junction block. The inboard port of the junction block supplies the right front and left rear brakes. The outboard port of the junction block supplies the left front and right rear brakes. On vehicles equipped with ABS (with or without traction control), the master cylinder primary outlet port outlet tube connects to the inboard port of the Integrated Control Unit (ICU), and the secondary outlet port outlet tube connects to the outboard port of the ICU. The master cylinder reservoir cap diaphragm is slit to allow atmospheric pressure to equalize on both sides of the diaphragm.

Fig 1: Identifying Master Cylinder
G00293107Courtesy of CHRYSLER CORP.