Master cylinder

A master cylinder for a hydraulically actuated clutch or brake system in a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a housing;
• a piston axially moveably arranged in said housing;
• and
• a piston rod having a ball-shaped head and connected to said piston,
• wherein said piston comprises a piston shaft sleeve and first and second support elements forming a spherical socket supporting said ball-shaped head so that the spherical socket and said ball-shaped head form a ball joint, said first and second support elements being supported by said piston shaft sleeve against forces introduced by said piston rod such that said piston and said piston rod are connected to each other essentially without play and are swivelable relative to each other at the ball joint, said first support element comprising a hemispherical shell enclosing one half of said ball-shaped head which faces away from said piston rod, said second support element comprising a spherical-segment-shaped ring defining an opening through which said piston rod passes, and supporting the other half of said ball-shaped head.