Wabco 16319249 Tandem Master Cylinder

Description

The Wabco 16319249 Tandem Master Cylinder is a critical component of a vehicle's braking system. It functions by converting the mechanical force from the brake pedal into hydraulic pressure, which then actuates the brake calipers or wheel cylinders to stop the vehicle. This particular master cylinder is designed for brake drum systems. By maintaining OE specification, this master cylinder ensures consistent and reliable braking performance, contributing to overall vehicle safety and control. It provides a direct replacement for the original equipment, simplifying installation and minimizing downtime.

Key Features & Benefits

Basically, this is the heart of your brake system. It takes the force from when you press the brake pedal and turns it into hydraulic pressure. It does this through two separate piston assemblies inside – that’s where the “tandem” part comes in. Each assembly controls half of the braking system – usually the front and rear brakes. So it’s not just one unit doing all the work, it’s split for safety. It builds pressure in the brake lines, sending fluid to the wheel cylinders or calipers that actually squeeze the brakes at each wheel. Think of it as the starting point for stopping. Everything downstream – lines, calipers, wheel cylinders – relies on the pressure this creates. It sits between the brake pedal and everything else in the system. It’s a pretty central component. You’ll find it usually mounted under the hood, often on the firewall.

Symptoms, Risks & Replacements

It’s crucial for obvious reasons – your ability to stop. But the ‘tandem’ design is what makes it really important for safety. If one half of the master cylinder fails, the other half should still work, giving you some braking ability. It won't be full braking, but it'll get you stopped, or at least slow you down enough to get to a safe spot. Without it functioning correctly, you’ll notice if the brake pedal feels spongy, goes to the floor, or if your car takes much longer to stop. You could even end up with a complete loss of brakes, so it's not something to mess around with. If you’re doing brake work yourself, or having a shop do it, a new master cylinder is often a smart preventative measure. We carry a good selection here, and you can also find them online at places like Fixparts Online.

Warranty Information

Wabco Tandem Master Cylinder (MPN 16319249) comes with a 1-year warranty.