The gen 2 brake swap is pretty straight forward and really easy - but you'll have to get the gen 2 rotors and calipers (junkyard
<$100 for everything). The only modification required is cutting off the bottom of the dust shield. This requires a cutting wheel, safety glasses and a desire to make sparks. Check this out for details Gen 2 Brake Upgrade .

FWIW, you may not need a mechanic - just a sense of adventure. These rigs are easy to work on. Between the tech write ups tech reference , official service manual (free download)mitsubishilinks.com, and the advice from members here, you'll have just about everything you need to fix most things on your ride. Well that and a set of wrenches, sockets, & phillips screwdriver. Honestly, the problems you've listed are really easy to handle yourself - and the money you'll save should pay for most if not all of your tires and suspension.
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