** Need some help ** Options

[KaptKaos]

I took my 914 to a reputable shop here locally to have some work done. It was running roughly and I didn't have time to monkey with it myself.

Anyway, while there and on a test drive with me in the car, the brake pedal went straight to the floor. I had previously always had firm brakes, good pads, and no other braking problems.

We get back to the shop and look at the pedals and there is fluid everywhere. Ok, master is shot. Ok to replace it with a new 19mm master. Call the shop a few days after parts arrive, new master is in, but the pedal is still mushy. Shop owner asks me if I want to replace the brake lines. I didn't really, but I had a set braided lines, so I drop them off. Still no improvement. Owner suggests to remove the proportioning valve and replace it with a T-connector. T - connector is a $15 part, he does it all the time - fine, go ahead.

A couple days go by (been really busy at work) and I stop by this AM and the brakes are still really mushy and go all the way to the floor. Pumping them up brings the pressure back but its still a problem. I call this afternoon and speak with the owner. He tells me that they found a leak in a hard line that runs from the pedal cluster back towards the firewall. I am going to go look at it tomorrow first hand. How we fix that line and how it broke are still open issues as well.

So it looks like it may not have been the brake master or the proportioning valve and definetly not the brake lines.

I take the car to this person because he has a good reputation, has been very fair with me in the past and for his expertise in solving these problems. Given what we have found - what is reasonable to expect in terms of the labor charges?

Any guidelines here would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[LukeD]

I had some what of a similar experience. Reputable shop I have been using for years. last time I took it in they test drove it after the repair and the wheel fell off! he was all of a sudden areal A hole. I paid the bill and found another shop. My advice is to pay the bill for quality work done and decide if you want to go back. It sounds like they did the proper troubleshooting and can't necessarily be blamed. I have successfully received a lower bill on similar experiences with Some of my American cars but after that the shop didn't treat me the Same.

Sometimes it's hard to find good shops. Use a shop you trust or work on the car yourself. Really good shops won't make you pay for their screw ups. If they do then I would move along. Has he given you a bill yet? If he's honest you shouldn't even have to bring anything up. Sounds like no discount is in order but you'd be surprised what good shops will do to keep you their customer.Trick is, is to find a shop like that. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

Luke D