Brake problems...$$$$. What to do? Options

[chaloots]

Brake problems... Porsche shop sez, need to rebuild F & R calipers and replace brake lines. The estimate to do the job is $1300. Geez! Is this the going rate?
Lots of $$$$ to me. What alternatives do I have?

Good car. Suspension mods. Lowered, bilsteins, springs, bushings, swaybars etc.
Strong stock 2L motor. Have driven PCA DE events.

If I have to spend this much $$$$, is there an alternative to stock 914 brakes.
Not able to work on the car myself. Live in the city. No garage, small apartment.

Any help/advice ...much appreciated.

C.

[McMark]

Buy calipers from Eric, they're most likely cheaper than where your shop is trying to source them, or the shop is doing it themselves, which will be more expensive.

Search here for stainless brake lines. There are two prominent opinions: 1.) stainless lines make the brakes feel 'firmer' 2.) stainless brake lines are dangerous because you can't monitor the condition of the lines since the stainless will always look fine, so people leave them on longer than they should.

I'm not going to discuss opinion 1 vs. opinion 2 here, it's been beaten to death. But a brake job is nothing special. Buy your parts yourself and if your regular shop won't use the parts you bring them, then find a shop that will for this repair. If you've been going to the same shop for awhile, you should be able to rationalize with them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Good Luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)