How to Replace a 2000 Dodge Dakota Master Cylinder

Prior to the 1921 introduction of hydraulic brakes to the automotive world, a vehicles stopping distance depended on how hard you could push. The 2000 Dodge Dakota uses four-wheel hydraulic brakes, as do all modern vehicles. At the heart of the hydraulic system is a pump, known as the master cylinder, which creates the pressure needed to stop the vehicle at roughly the same rate again and again. Replacing the master cylinder in the 2000 Dakota is not overly difficult, but it does require two bleeding processes one before installing the master cylinder and one after.

Instructions

Removal

1

Open the master cylinder cap and siphon out all of the brake fluid with a clean turkey baster. Transfer this fluid to a small container.

2

Position the small container under one brake line fitting where it connects to the master cylinder and loosen the brake-line-to-master-cylinder fitting with a line wrench. Allow all of the fluid to drain into the small container, and pull the line from the master cylinder. Repeat this step on the second brake line.

3

Remove the nuts securing the master cylinder to the brake booster with a ratchet and socket, then pull the master cylinder off the booster and out of the Dakota.

Bench Bleeding

4

Set the new master cylinder in a bench vise with rubber jaw protectors. Tighten the vise until the master cylinder is held in place do not over-tighten the vise, or you might break the master cylinder.

5

Remove the plastic caps sealing the brake hose portals in the master cylinder. Screw the hoses from the master cylinder bleeder kit into the portals by hand, then snug them with a line wrench.

6

Unscrew the lid from the master cylinder and route the hoses into the master cylinder reservoir. Fill the master cylinder reservoir with fresh DOT 3 brake fluid until the hoses in the fluid submerge the bleeder lines in the reservoir.

7

Press and release the plunger on the booster side of the master cylinder with a wooden dowel rod and watch for air to come from the hoses in the reservoir. Repeat this step until no air comes from the lines.

8

Unscrew the bleeder lines from the master cylinder and reinsert the caps into the brake line ports.

Installation

9

Bleed the master cylinder using the process outlined in the section titled Bench Bleeding.

10

Set the master cylinder on the mounting studs on the brake booster. Hand-tighten the master cylinder-retaining nuts, then torque them to 13 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

11

Position a small container under the rearmost brake line port and pull the rubber cap from the port. Hand-thread the rear brake line into the port the brake lines are molded, so you cannot confuse them. Tighten the brake line fitting to 14 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and crows foot attachment. Repeat this step for the front brake line.

12

Proceed to the section titled "Bleeding the Brakes" to eliminate any remaining air in the brake system.

Bleeding the Brakes

13

Raise the front of the pickup with a floor jack and slide jack stands beneath it. Lower the front of the truck onto the jack stands. Raise the rear of the Dakota with a floor jack and slide jack stands under the rear of the frame rails. Lower the rear of the truck onto the jack stands.

14

Crawl beneath the right rear wheel and find the brake bleeder valve the -inch metal valve on the top of the caliper or drum backing plate. Press the end of a -inch-diamenter rubber hose onto the end of the bleeder valve; set the other end of the hose in a clean, clear container. Fill the container with DOT 3 brake fluid until fluid submerges the hose.

15

Turn the bleeder valve about a half turn counterclockwise with a combination wrench to open it. Immediately instruct an assistant to press the brake pedal to the floor and hold it watch the end of the hose in the container a look for bubbles coming from it. Close the bleeder valve. Repeat this step until no bubbles come from the end of the hose.

16

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to bleed the remaining three wheels in the following order: left rear, right front and left front. Check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder after bleeding each wheel and refill it to the Max line allowing the master cylinder to run dry will introduce air into the system.

17

Raise the rear of the truck off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the Dakota to the ground. Raise the front of the Dodge off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the front of the truck to the ground.