ASVAB · Vehicle Systems

What is the function of the brake system's master cylinder?

Correct answer

To convert the force from the brake pedal into hydraulic pressure that activates the brakes

  1. A To turn the wheels
  2. B To convert the force from the brake pedal into hydraulic pressure that activates the brakes
  3. C To pump fuel
  4. D To charge the battery

Why this is the answer

The MASTER CYLINDER converts the force from the brake pedal into HYDRAULIC PRESSURE, which is transmitted through brake lines to activate the brakes at each wheel. ASVAB Auto Information tests the brake system. When you press the pedal, the master cylinder pushes brake fluid through the lines to the wheel cylinders/calipers, which press the brake pads/shoes against the rotors/drums to slow the car (using Pascal's principle of hydraulics). Knowing the master cylinder's role in the hydraulic brake system is commonly tested.
Source: ASVAB Auto Information — Brake System

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About this topic: Vehicle Systems

Vehicle systems questions ask how the major subsystems work together — fuel, ignition, cooling, lubrication, electrical, exhaust and drivetrain — and what symptom points to which system. You do not need mechanic-level depth, just the function of each part and the common failure signs. This is one of 9 Auto Information questions on vehicle systems, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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