Front Pipe extortion - where to buy a good replacement

[camry_jc]

So I call my genuine toyota parts main man and i says, "yo! need a front pipe for a 2001 camry, 4 cyl". He says to me, "You sitting down? you got your heart meds under control?" I says, "Yeah". He says, "$1184". I say, "WTF"

In any event, I am not about to shell out $1200 bucks for this part. I have replaced it once already with an after-market and this one is now leaking where the hanger in the middle is welded onto the pipe. I am also getting P0420, and suspect the Cat may be reaching end of life. The flex part isn't leaking. In retrospect, I should have never junked the OEM part and instead had a new flex part welded in, hindsight is always 20-20.

So, suggestions on where to buy aftermarket? Rock Auto lists a Bosal part 0995701 for $165. Eastern Catalytic part # 40244 offers one for $261. I also found this one: http://www.speedycarparts.com/catalo...odel_txt=Camry - $88 bucks.

And, of course, I'll locate a current 5% discount code to save a little more.

Other suggestions before I punish the plastic?

Thanks All and have a good one!

thanks
-jc

[flyeri]

I would take it to a real muffler shop and have them try to repair it. That might cost much less and solve your problem. Stay away form the chain stores.

[Chris Crash]

You can probably weld it back together.

I think that code is because you have such a leak.

[PortugalFocus]

Yea, go to a local mom and pop shop and have them weld it all together.

[TRCar54]

Got mine for a 2000 Cali spec Camry from Discount Converter.

http://www.discountconverter.com/

$418.00 and free shipping.

Seems to work well and looked a like a quality part.

Be careful of the cheap parts. You get what you pay for.

From their website. All of our Direct Fit and Universal Catalytic Converters Carry Factory Warranties up to 5 Years or 50,000 Miles!

The 2nd cat's rear flange rotted right off so very little exhaust was flowing past the downstream sensor. I drove it like that for a couple of weeks with no CEL.

Good luck,
Jay in MA

[TRCar54]

UPDATE

Just wanted to drop a line about my experience with this pipe.

The converter is fine but the flex pipe lasted about 9 months. I didn't bottom the exhaust out to damage the pipe...it just rotted out.

I repaired the flange on the old pipe and will pop that back on. When I have a chance I'll replace the flex portion of the newer pipe and have it as a backup.

Jay in MA