The brake pipes from front to back are copper or copper nickel or similar, then there is a flexi part and another short copper pipe to the caliper. The rubber flexi part can perish and can bulge under braking this could feel like a soft peddle or excessive peddle travel.
Now they are really easy to change however they can and do corrode at the nipple at the bracket end (you can see this as the rubber that sleeves it bulges and splits) so when trying to undo the copper pipe twists and is then dead. But it should be possible to put a new end on and if needs be an in line repair.
I had to make new ends from the flexi to the calipers when i changed them. But for a garage i can't see it being more than a couple hours.
A8Parts will have second hand parts rather than buying new if they can't make it. See
HERE