94 Camry V6 Exhaust Leak

[keith_Julie]

I just bought a 94 Camry V6 for my daughter. It has 186,000 miles and what was supposedly a muffler exhaust leak. Upon inspecting it from the top side, I found that the exhaust leak was up close to the engine. I assumed it was something like a flex pipe or something and have yet to get underneath it so am not sure what components make up the exhaust system in this area. Those of you experienced with these cars, what is this leak from most likely? A gasket, flex pipe or something else???

[mazdaverx7]

more than likely the front y-pipe's flex pipes have given up the ghost. where in OH are you located? i bought my new y-pipe from advance auto parts. decent quality with a life expentancy of about 5 or 6 years. in this picture, you can see the y-pipe with flex pipes:

[keith_Julie]

Ohhhh, there are flex connections in the pipe... looks like a fun one to replace!! How hard is it to replace this one?

[keith_Julie]

Are the connections too the manifolds and cat with studs or bolts? My worst fear is breaking off studs in the manifold...

[mazdaverx7]

there are two studs in each manifold. surprisingly Toyota uses stainless nuts and mine came off with relative ease. i did work them slowly and i applied antiseize as i had in 2005 in anticipation for future removal. the pipe to converter uses two bolts. you will also have to remove the center y-pipe hanger form the subframe. only two 12mm bolts secure it and it makes removing the y-pipe worlds easier. in addition to the y-pipe you will also need two gaskets for the y-pipe to manifold flanges and one y-pipe to converter gasket. i replaced the converter bolts and ensured the hanger bolts had a die run down them and the subframe holes tapped to clean the threads. the hanger bolts were then greased as was the y-pipe hanger tab. old hanger tab was seized in the rubber hanger.