Broken Flex Pipe - Loud Exhaust

[FrankXT86]

Alright, so I was doing a 3 point turn and I went up on a curb and I I slammed my muffler down on it which in turn, broke my flex pipe. The mesh thing near the headers that looks like mesh metal is leaking and my car is noticeably louder. I called up the dealer and they said that it would cost 1200 not including labor to replace the entire pipe. I was like crap, thats a lot but he said it included gaskets but no labor on top of that.

I was thinking that I could get it for way cheaper than that. Now, is there any aftermarket pipes or maybe just replacing the meshed part of the metal that could be done for less because I can't afford the 1200 right now. Any other ideas on how to fix this or is this my only option?

I would not be opposed to ordering something cheaper online, and just having it installed somewhere rather than a dealer installed pipe.

P.S. The car drives fine, its just noisy and leaking exhaust, no CEL or anything of the sort.

It's a 1999 Camry LE I4 2.2L with 148,600 miles on it.
TIA!

[Durrby]

Holy ass rape batman! A new flex pipe should be around $80-100 installed. All they have to do is cut out the old one and weld a new one in place.

[toyomania]

My 94 flex pipe developed a hole in it, and being the chepo that I am, I called around to see what was out there. I found one at a Midas muffler shop and cut out the old one - welded in the new one - done. I spent about 2 hours on it and the flex was less than $25. I pulled the entire exhaust out and checked the rest of it at the time. The dealers will rape you when you visit them to install a $30 part. Look around - you have 130K on your Camry already - it's not going to last forever.

[ray92es]

I replaced the exhaust pipe on my 92 a few months ago. Being inthe rust belt, the rest of the pipe was not in good enough shape to weld in the flex part. I bought the part at NAPA. For those without a welder or a bad pipe, this may be the way to go. The pipe was a little over $200

[ASG14]

Yes, the $1200 for the flex pipe at the dealer IS correct. go to an exhaust specialist shop and get a price quote.

[midnightmach]

Yea my flex pipe went last summer, i had to order a new Y-pipe cost me about 500+ i think.

[MIC0417]

Even if that deal with Toyota replacing there stuff for free, you can order the enitre pipe from Magnaflow for 175$ from Summit. So even if you've gotten two out of them you'll need a third for the prices to come close. That is ridiculous, just buy it and install the entire section yourself.

[Monkey123]

FrankXT86,

I changed my wife flex pipe on her 1992 Camry and the price was around $230 including the catylic convert at Napa. Only Napa carry it for 1992 Camry. It depends on the design for your 1999 Camry. On my 1992 Camry, the flex pipe and the catylic converter is a whole piece. If your 1999 Camry are two pieces, you can order the flex pipe through Napa and change it. This will save you some $$$. Be patient when changing exhaust pipe. Most of the nuts and bolts are rusted and you might have to cut the nuts and bolts just to take it out. Good luck.

Monkey123

[Sniperdude]

Got my flex pipe done for 75.

[popeye08]

Look at my flex pipe: $130 for new part and welding. Very gooooood job.

[Richard_97LE]

I have the same problem in my 97 I4, called the dealer other day they said like $1,398 or something like that. the catalytic converter is on the down pipe with the flex. Can't even go to a junkyard to get it replaced. I can get it cut and welded but since I have a lot of miles I figured might as well replace the whole pipe, we'll see if anyone else has a better price.

[ghettosled]

try an aftermarket exhaust company like catco. i got that piece for my 96 i4 for about $120 new. its the complete bolt-in section with the flex pipe and secondary catalytic converter that spans from the primary cat to the pipe that runs back to the muttler. easy to install because it bolts right in.

[DarkMastyr]

I remember calling the douchebags at Merlin's Mufflers and they wanted to charge me over $1k since they were going to replace the downpipe/cat/other crap as well.

I took it to a local muffler shop owned by a very badass latino family and they replaced the flex pipe + installed my new muffler (which required a mandrel bend) for $140.

[popeye08]

Good deal.

Originally Posted by DarkMastyr

I remember calling the douchebags at Merlin's Mufflers and they wanted to charge me over $1k since they were going to replace the downpipe/cat/other crap as well.

I took it to a local muffler shop owned by a very badass latino family and they replaced the flex pipe + installed my new muffler (which required a mandrel bend) for $140.

[Richard_97LE]

found this in relation to catco, much better than 1400 from the dealer.
http://www.carpartswholesale.com/cpw...o&make_code=TO