I put my car in for a service and replacement flexi brake lines but it has run into snags. The specialist has had to replace all the hard lines too because the connections were so badly corroded. Now the car is stuck on the ramp waiting for the brake line brackets to come from Germany because the old ones had turned to dust. So why am I relieved.....? I was contemplating doing this job myself The specialist says it is one of the worst he has seen but that is probably because it is the first time my 1990 car has had them replaced.
On a slightly different note I am starting to get withdrawl symptoms now because have been without the car for 5 weeks, while it also has all the bodywork imperfections fixed (rust, minor dents, etc). Nothing major but all adds up in time. Should be well sorted when I get it back though.
Steve

 

Hi Steve
Makes me wonder if I should go take a close look at my '90 brake hoses?
By the way, how are you having minor dents sorted? Is it some form of PDR system? I have an annoying door ding courtesy of some careless t*sser and would be interested in your results.
Cheers
Greg

 

Do they put a lot of salt on the roads in the UK? (ack!)

 

I am having the body work done the traditional way because the near side front wing actually needed some metal cut out and new welding in with some grinding also required on other places, which turned out to just be surface rust. The other parts that were completely gone were the brackets that hold the inner structural rear bumper on. Porsche only do the full bumper assembly so the body shop are hopefully getting new brackets fabricated. I have taken photos of the bare metal, then primer and hopefully soon the finished work so will post when done. Both sides are being resprayed but not the whole car because being a solid colour it should blend very well, but we always have the option of spraying the rest if necessary.

On the other question, yes they put loads of salt on the roads but also I think it is particularly bad in the UK because the temperature means it is mostly salty, slushy mud, which is designed with the express purpose of destroying car bodywork

 

In the Pacific NW, there is no salt on the roads. The cars last a lot longer, but it makes for some crazy road conditions sometimes. They use a crushed volcanic rock which is rust colored, and causes this orange muck to get all over the cars. Its like pumice. The downside is that rocks fly a lot more into windshields... and wipers last about 3 hours in that stuff. ugh.

 

Having to change hard lines at the same time as the hoses is pretty typical in the UK. Been there myself and now have the tee shirt.

 

You can always try my DIY Here



Steve, did you do the hardlines yourself, did you replace all of them. This is still on my todo list anything I need to look out for, how easy is the line that goes over the gearbox to get into place? Is it a DIY job.

 

Hardcore, I made my own lines and fitted them, its pretty easy to do providing you can take your time and don't have any distractions.

Kevin

 

I had to replace all the short lines to the calipers and the left side line that goes along the gearbox (the same one you mean I think). I'm no pipe bender so bought them all from Porsche. The gearbox one looks like a work of art. It was about 50 quid! I'd already broken it at the flexible hose end and to ensure I didn't damage the receiving end (and create more work and expense), I sawed off the pipe next to the coupling so that I could get a hex socket on the coupling. The replacement 'work of art' was then easy to fit.