2004 996 Carrera 4S brake pipe replacement - cost!

[uk66fastback]

A mate took his car to a main dealer for an MOT - and the only thing it failed on was corroded brake pipes necessitating one side for sure to be replaced apparently.

They did prepare him a quote for the work - how much does PH think? There's more involved with this job than first meets the eye to the uninitiated ...

Thing is, they also did him a brake fluid change at the same time (which he had booked) and which was pointless!? And something I believe he didn't end up paying for. I have no idea which way round they did the jobs. Fluid & MoT or vice versa ...

Car has 35k miles on the clock - two owners etc, in very good nick.

Edited by uk66fastback on Tuesday 5th June 21:19

Edited by uk66fastback on Tuesday 5th June 21:20

[Paynewright]

£2.5 - £3K

I’ve have just today changed the front transverse one on my 996.2 C2 and its a pig - suspension was off anyway but had to drop the subframe out and support the fuel tank. Did rack pipes too while I was in there.

Ian

[Polome]

The brake pipes on Porsche cars are poor quality and corrode far to easily ( VW i.e. a lot further down the food chain , last for ever and don't corrode, why is that? ) and usually need replacement when around 8-10 years old. I've used my local VW specialist to replace pipes in my 996&7 before they seized solid into the calliper and fittings to replace with non corrosive pipe. The pipe that goes over the g/box (996) is a very common failure , OPC wanted to remove g/box and replace preformed pipe at £xxxx. I had it done for £160 at specialist.... it pays to be preemptive with this type of work , it works out cheaper and is a lot easier in the long run ...good luck with your choice ...

[uk66fastback]

Good guess from Paynewright there ...



Parts accounted for about £900.

Is the below really necessary?

[Paynewright]

Not sure about engine - the one over the gearbox just needs the box taking out. I’ve read some people convert to aeroquipe flexible hose and it can be threaded over the top.

At front its defo subframe out - if its the cradle for the diff then that is out too. (Not familiar with C4’s)

I think its worth a quote from a trusted indy. They can make up the pipes for a 1/4 of the cost of Porsche ones, using better materials.

Ian

[uk66fastback]

I think it’s already been to one, or its arrival is certainly imminent.

[EGTE]

Typical Stealer massive over-charge.

You can buy kunifer pipe £12 for 25ft. or so and a day's work at an Indy is a few £100.

So divide by 10......

[cvega]

paid £200 to have this rectified for brake pipes corroded back to front.

[CrashBang]

EGTE said:

Typical Stealer massive over-charge.

You can buy kunifer pipe £12 for 25ft. or so and a day's work at an Indy is a few £100.

So divide by 10......

What he said!!

I am staggered that they have the audacity to even quote those numbers! - How many hours have they quoted? And what is the labor rate?

Parts cost also seems to high, I recently changed the majority of my hardlines, granted on a C2, but the cost of parts, from Porsche, was circa £300!

The rear connecting line is an engine out job, but as already mentioned there is a flexible stainless solution on the market.

[TROOPER88]

Hi
So on any Boxster 986, to replace all the brake pipes is a very big job costing thousands at an OPC??

I know mine have been advisories on a prev MOT.


What does an indy charge for this?


Thanks

[Polome]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

The pipes start corroding long before they become an MOT failure...replacing them at an early stage ( if your car is a keeper) you stand a better chance of unscrewing the fittings from the calliper without causing further damage. When the pipes & fittings are badly corroded they can be a bugger to remove....I replaced the wheel arch pipes on my 997 when it was 4 years old and even then the removal wasn't easy.....

[uk66fastback]

Labour from the OPC was £2375.00 before VAT.

I shall let you know the cost of what the Indy charged when I know it.

[Paynewright]

On my 2003 car removing the fitting into the front callipers was tense - fitting that corroded spanner wouldnt fit. Mole grips as tight as I could get them did the job!

Ian

[uk66fastback]

It's at the Indy now. They had it up on the ramps and showed him the damage to the brake lines and said they would have failed it as well ... so they have well and truly gone. They've suggested getting a clutch fitted as well if he wants while the work is being done - which he accepts is going to have to be done not that he likes it of course!

And the IMS bearing maybe as well ... we'll see. The car is a keeper I think, so h might as well get this all done if he can and pre-empt any more nasty surprises. I've seen the price for the clutch and brake line work, it's a good four figures less plus some than the OPC.

[Paynewright]

Jury out on IMS replacement - changing can cause other issues eg altering chain alignment. Hartec have posted some interesting write ups recently on the matter. I’d suggest some research on the topic.

I’d get the IMS checked whilst the gearbox is off and possibly remove the plastic cover on the bearing.

Ian

[The_Doc]

I had to take my car to a main dealer as no-one else had the tools to sort it out in a reasonable timeframe. It was trailered there.

They fixed it and in the Duty-of-Care shakedown quoted me £1500 to look at the clutch, which was smelling strongly.

My recovery driver said he rode the clutch a bit when backing it off the truck, and said he though there was nothing else in it.

It's been fine ever since (3k miles) and shows no symptoms of worn clutch ( I know what these are)

I am £1500 better off for having some common sense, and declining the Duty-of-care BS. I think duty-of-care is highly ironic as I'm a Doctor, and we do Duty of Care. And it;s got nothing to do with this.

Pity all the people without the sense to doubt these garages, and the warranty holders who get the bills forwarded on to a faceless organisation who pays the bills and inflates next's premiums to guarantee the profits.

[Bullet-Proof_Biscuit]

I get pre-emptive hard line replacement to be fair. eg having the hard line over the box replaced when the clutch is changed. You could also request a corrosion inhibiting (waxoil) coating to hard lines with any service,

Though historically I've always replaced corroded hard line with braided flex when required only because I have zero patience when it comes to bending & installing a kunifer hard line and I'm a patient guy..

for info You could have a Goodyear / Aeroquip braided flex line made up to suit with change from £50.

[DavidJJ]

Assuming comparing like for like it was £1100 for me last year, detailed near the end here;

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[dab996]

Polome said:

The brake pipes on Porsche cars are poor quality and corrode far to easily ( VW i.e. a lot further down the food chain , last for ever and don't corrode, why is that? ) and usually need replacement when around 8-10 years old. I've used my local VW specialist to replace pipes in my 996&7 before they seized solid into the calliper and fittings to replace with non corrosive pipe. The pipe that goes over the g/box (996) is a very common failure , OPC wanted to remove g/box and replace preformed pipe at £xxxx. I had it done for £160 at specialist.... it pays to be preemptive with this type of work , it works out cheaper and is a lot easier in the long run ...good luck with your choice ...

Hi Polome, I've just read your post and should be grateful for any details on the job you had to replace the brake pipe over g/box as mine has just failed it's MOT for this very reason and £160 sounds more than reasonable.

Thanks,
Darren