A brake cylinder for brakes of a motor vehicle, in particular for utility vehicles, comprising a spring loaded brake section and a service brake section is configurable in such a way that a total length is substantially shortened. In the inventive cylinder, the spring loaded brake section and the service brake section are constructed in such a way that they form a single unit. The brake cylinder comprises a pressurized piston for service braking and a spring-loaded piston for parking braking. The two pistons are connected to each other through a shift cylinder and are disconnected by the pressure relief in a second pressure chamber through the shift cylinder in such a way that the piston is displaceable by a spring-loaded spring. In order to release the brake, the piston for service braking is pressurized and reconnected to the piston. The unit is displaced to a release position by the action of a return spring through the pressure relief of the piston. The inventive brake cylinder is particularly suitable for utility vehicles.