broken flex pipe....need help quick!! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

tran.man48 · 05-23-2009, 02:10 AM

hey everyone,
My 92 Camry's flex pipe just split, luckily I was still really close to my house, so I was able to drive it home. Anyway, the exhaust is extremely loud, and I need to drive it to my mechanic tomorrow, about 15 miles away.

It's pretty annoying driving with the loud exhaust, and I was wondering if I could get some exhaust tape or something just to quickly "bandage" up the flex pipe so I can make it to the shop.

If that doesn't work, or if the tape breaks loose on the way to the shop, is there any harm to driving my car with a hole in the flex pipe? Would I be better off getting my car towed there (last resort)?

Thanks!!!

Zviator · 05-23-2009, 02:31 AM

No harm ... Melted duct tape will be a mess, get ear flugs instead ...

Mike Gerber · 05-23-2009, 03:28 AM

^ What Camricer said. There will be no harm to your car, just a lot of loud exhaust noise. A local muffler shop will cut out the old flex pipe and weld in a new aftermarket one. That repair runs about $150 here in the Chicago area; may be a bit more in Hawaii.

Mike

cerragon07 · 05-24-2009, 10:41 AM

i just fixed my broken flex pipe, was too lazy to get it fixed, was loud as hell for a month or 2, then got it fixed, purrs like a kitten. check ebay for a replacement flex pipe. got mine there cheap. i would just replace the whole pipe. its l ike an hour and a half job for the mechanic.

tran.man48 · 05-24-2009, 02:31 PM

thanks for the replies everyone. my mechanic said he'd take a look on tuesday, and I'll have him replace the lower motor mounts too, as I've been driving with broken ones for the last couple months. I've replaced the dogbone mount myself, and that's holding up well though...

500KCamry · 05-24-2009, 07:55 PM

Up here in Canada I've never been impressed by the exhaust system parts installed by chain muffler shops. The aftermarket pipes never seem to last more than a year or two.

With my Toyotas I've always rationalized buying the original exhaust parts (pipes and flange gaskets) and replacing the section that is damaged by myself.

Never had to replace the same part again - yet - and there's a lot of salty km's on those pipes.

Maybe the shops can be directed to supply higher quality parts - someone here might know - I don't - as they always seem to slap on something that doesn't last.

The only problem I've had with flex pipes is as you found, a problem with the dogbone or motor mounts.