Porsche Brake Replacement Cost: How Much Should You Pay? (in 2023)

Brake brake replacement featured image

If it’s your first time dealing with a Porsche brake replacement job, you are probably in disbelief in how much your dealership wants to charge you. In this article, we’ll help you understand why dealerships charge so much and how you can save over $1,000 on your brake job.

Quick Answer

To replace the front and rear brakes, expect to pay between $2,500 to $3,500 at a Porsche dealership or around $1,800 to $3,000 at an independent Porsche mechanic. However, if you are somewhat handy, you can replace your brakes yourself for less than $1,000.

Why does replacing the brakes on a Porsche cost so much?

Compared to an ordinary car, replacing the brakes on your Porsche is so much more expensive due to exorbitant price Porsche dealerships charge for parts and labor. Firstly, Porsche dealerships are required to used genuine Porsche parts (aka original equipment / OE parts). These parts are usually highly marked up versions of parts made by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Bosch and Brembo. Secondly, Porsche dealerships charge anywhere from $180 to $250 an hour for labor whereas a Toyota dealership may only charge $120 an hour.

Let’s take a close look at how much you can expect to pay for replacing the front and rear brakes on a 2014 Porsche 911 Carrera S. You can expect a similar price breakdown for other Porsche models as well.

Item Dealership
2x Front Brake Rotor $602
1x Front Brake Pads $264
2x Rear Brake Rotor $476
1x Rear Brake Pad $271
4x Brake Sensors $200
4x Brake Hardware $200
8x Brake Caliper Bolt $40
2 Hours Labor, Front $400
2 Hours Labor, Rear $400
Total $2,813

How to save money on a Porsche brake replacement?

As we mentioned above, replacing the brakes on your Porsche is expensive due to parts and labor. While Porsche parts and labor are very expensive, replacing the brakes on a Porsche is no more difficult than replacing the brakes on an ordinary car. Let’s explore how you can save money by either doing-it-yourself (DIY) or visiting an independent mechanic.

Do-It-Yourself

DIY is a great way to save up to $2,000 replacing your brakes because you can avoid overpriced “genuine” Porsche parts. While you might be concerned about using non-genuine parts, most genuine Porsche parts are actually rebranded parts made by other manufacturers. For example, many genuine Porsche brake pads are made by Textar, which you can purchase a set for around $100 vs. around $260 for “genuine” Porsche pads.

Let’s see how much you can save by doing-it-yourself and using OE-equivalent parts.

Item Dealership DIY
2x Front Brake Rotor $602 $258
1x Front Brake Pads $264 $111
2x Rear Brake Rotor $476 $220
1x Rear Brake Pad $271 $134
4x Brake Sensors $200 $24
4x Brake Hardware $200 $200
8x Brake Caliper Bolt $40 $40
2 Hours Labor, Front $400 N/A
2 Hours Labor, Rear $400 N/A
Total $2,813 $987

Independent Porsche Mechanic

Alternatively, if you are not comfortable replacing the brakes on your Porsche yourself, hiring an independent Porsche mechanic is still a great way to save money. Firstly, an independent Porsche mechanic, typically charges around $120 to $150 per labor hour, so you’ll save at least $200 on labor. Secondly, an independent Porsche mechanic is often willing to use OE-equivalent parts, which will save you a significant amount of money.

While going to an independent mechanic will save you money, you can still expect to pay around $1,800 to $3,000 to replace your brakes. This is because independent mechanics mark up the price of parts to make money. To avoid this surcharge, we recommend calling around to find a reputable independent mechanic that allows customers to supply their own parts. This will allow you get the best deal on parts and only have to cover 4 to 5 hours of labor.

Conclusion

In summary, replacing the brakes on a Porsche is indeed very expensive. While we agree Porsches are special cars, replacing the brakes is no more difficult than on an ordinary car. To save yourself $1,000 or more, skip the Porsche dealership and either do-it-yourself or visit an independent Porsche mechanic.

Here at eCarGuides, our goal is to help car owners make the best decisions possible when it comes to maintaining their vehicles. Find a highly-rated Porsche mechanic near you and detailed DIY guides for your Porsche.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need to replace my brakes?

The brake pads on a Porsche can last around 30,000 to 40,000 miles under normal driving conditions. Since all modern Porsches use brake pad sensors, you can easily tell when it is time to replace your brakes because a brake warning light will appear in the instrument cluster. Alternatively, you can use a brake pad measuring tool to determine when the brake pads are nearing the end of their life.

Do I need to replace the brake pads and rotors at the same time?

Many Porsche dealerships will insist on replacing the brake pads and rotors at the same time. While we are often skeptical of dealership service centers, we generally agree. Typically on a Porsche, by the time the brake pads need to be replaced, your car has eaten through a significant amount of brake rotor material.

To inspect your brake rotor, run your fingernail across the edge of the brake rotor. If there is a lip your fingernail catches on, it’s a good idea to replace your brake rotor. And even if there isn’t a lip on the edge of the rotor, by replacing the brake pads and rotors at the same time, you’ll reduce the risks of brake squeal and vibration.

My brakes are squealing or vibrating. Do I need to replace my brakes?

Not necessarily. Brakes can squeal or vibration for numerous reasons. Before running out and spending a ton of money replacing your brakes, check out this video below for helpful diagnostic tips and potential fixes.

22 comments on “Porsche Brake Replacement Cost: How Much Should You Pay? (in 2023)

  1. The caption photo shows ceramic brakes. Are your figures based on those? And what mileage should one expect from ceramic rotors and their associated pads

    • ecarguidesllc says:

      Hi John. The article does not cover the cost associated with replacing ceramic brakes. For the most part, the ceramic rotors should be lifetime unless you damage them. In that case, a set of rotors front and rear will run you over $10,000. The brake pads should last 20-40k miles depending on how you drive. Obviously, if you track your car, the pads will wear even quicker. In general, replacing the brake pads on a vehicle with carbon ceramic rotors should be about the same price as a Porsche with steel brakes. Hope this helps.

      • Bruce Hochstetler says:

        For a newer 911 GT3, the rotors cost about $25,000 not $10,000. 10K would be the cost of using steel instead of the ceramics. Many people who track their cars replace the ceramics with steels because of the cost. Of course, other options exist such as having the ceramics refurbished at a cost of around $8,000 for all four corners.

    • ecarguidesllc says:

      Yes, that’s correct. It could be any one of the corners of the vehicle or multiple. Most likely, however, just your front or rear brakes would need to be replaced because they typically do not wear at the same rate. This is a good time to get your brakes inspected.

  2. I have a 2018 Macan. I’m noticing some vibration when I brake. Sensors are not lighting up. Any advice before I bring it somewhere to be checked out is appreciated!

    • ecarguidesllc says:

      Hi Sue. How many have you put on the brakes and were there any events that happened around the time you first began noticing the issue? A common issue that can happen is that the brake rotors develop uneven levels of pad material deposits. You can try getting your car up to 40-50 MPH and apply the brakes pretty hard and repeat this 4-5 times; of course do so on a road free of traffic and in accordance to local traffic laws. If you have uneven pad material deposited on the brake rotors, this should help even things out. Hope this helps.

      • TheFlyinFilopino says:

        Honestly and only when it’s safe. Going from 75 to FULL STOP 3 Times is a great way to clean up any braking issue i’ve had on my 997.2 and 991.2. Now please don’t do this with anyone behind you or around you, but it really works 100%.

  3. TheFlyinFilopino says:

    I learned this from a Porsche mechanic. A real mechanic who works for Porsche. She said “Only do what the computer tells you to do … period”.

  4. What is the torque setting for the caliper bolts on a 2014 Cayenne turbo red caliper 390mm rotors. I have seen videos using 200fp.

  5. have 2013 porsche boxster (2.7 litre flat six). passenger front wheel has a low rubbing noise when i apply brake pressure. no warning lights are on. car has about 52k miles. thoughts as to what this could be?

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