Brake Master Cylinder aftermarket recommendations

[Superchrd]

I am looking to buy a master cylinder for my '96 corolla dx (1.8l)
I bought one from Autozone (Fenco) I think that didn't even solve
my soft pedal problem.
So I decided to get one from rockauto.com

There are some brands like:

A-1 CARDONE

CARDONE SELECT

DORMAN

BECK/ARNLEY

WAGNER

RAYBESTOS

ACDELCO

Conventional wisdom says to buy the second cheapest (in this case DORMAN), but let me try polling some of you guys in the forum.
What are you experiences with brake master cylinders besides OEM?
Thanks

[iToaster]

The only one of those brands I've ever heard of is AC Delco, so I'd go with them.

[Rip The E Brake]

How do you know that the BMC is the culprit? Did you check all your lines for pinholes? Check all the steel lines too?

[speedy25]

My experience with autozone is ALL BAD when it comes to brake master cylinders. Biggest problem is they leak. Next they just dont work out of the box.

I've had no problems with other brands.

-SP

[Superchrd]

Originally Posted by Rip The E Brake

How do you know that the BMC is the culprit? Did you check all your lines for pinholes? Check all the steel lines too?

Yes, and yes. I had my mechanic whom I go to do the work that is too hard for me to do, double check.
some times it will stiffen up a bit, but not good enough, then loosen a lot.
Now after the BMC change it stiffens a bit more, and loosens less. Still no good.
used 1.5 big bottles of fluid to take the air out of the system.

[a3on75]

Sounds to me like your vacuum booster may actually be the culprit here. the pedal will be slightly soft it is just the way they are. The booster on these cars are actually quite large for their size. The reason the pedal is going to be soft is because the vacuum on the front side of the booster has a slight pull on the pedal to help you apply greater force to the brake system. To test your vacuum booster shut your car off and pump the pedal around ten times. Make sure to pump slowly as to not aerate your brake system. After pumping it the pedal should get firm. If the pedal does not get firm after pumping it there is most likely air in the lines or a leak. after the pumping firmly press the brake pedal down and then start the car. You should feel the pedal drop some, this is the vacuum booster operating as it should, if it doesn't the booster is bad. Any more questions feel free to PM me. Thanks
A3on75

[Greasewrench]

Originally Posted by Superchrd

Yes, and yes. I had my mechanic whom I go to do the work that is too hard for me to do, double check.
some times it will stiffen up a bit, but not good enough, then loosen a lot.
Now after the BMC change it stiffens a bit more, and loosens less. Still no good.
used 1.5 big bottles of fluid to take the air out of the system.

Cardone is a good brand, either A1 cardone or the new select cardone are good ones. the select brand comes with a new reservoir too, i wish i had bought that one but i went with the reman cardone A1. BTW the bleeder kits that they come with are really horrible man, theyre made of cheap plastic. u gotta screw them into the MC ports and they easily strip out since u r trying to screw plastic into metal. u can buy professional kits made of brass or aluminum fittings for about $80 that work real good. i got one from napa for $58. it is on the expensive side to buy the pro kit but if u don't bench bleed the thing right u can forget about driving the car anywhere

[Jimp]

I have had the same problem on two different corollas. In both cases it turn out to be a caliper (the pins were frozen). In the first case, I was convinced it was the master cylinder and replaced it first with an after market and then with a Toyota ($$).