Camry Flex Pipe

[smileyiyun]

I have a pre-owned Camry 98, and failed on the car inspection last week because of "exhaust system leaking". The inspection officer did not tell me how it leaks, but I recalled the information from mechenical check when I got the car, that the Flex pipe needs to be changed. I am not sure if they are the same issue and can anyone kindly help me? BTW: I checked the price from Toyota dealer about the Flex pipe, whose quote is $995 excluding labor and tax! Is it that expensive? Since the mechanic told me two hundred bucks will be top...
Thank you very much for your kind help!

[Calvin327]

The dealer will always try to get you with high expensive prices! You should expect that, go to a local mechanic or a muffler shop they can get it done for a lot cheaper like 200-300 at most.

[InTeReX]

^^what he said. I had mine replace for $150.

[Nico]

Find an aftermarket one and get it welded : much less expensive. You can find those on ebay. OR find a used one, it is very worth too.

[Pineapple]

Read the quote, $995 for just a flex pipe? Even dealer won't get that expensive.

[KamryStylez]

junk yard?

[GaviN]

Damn thats a lot of money !! NJ inspection is crazy. I was the happiest person on earth when my 93 Camry passed with 228k miles on it. This was my first year registering the car there instead of NY.

[Eye8Pussies]

find out which part of the flex pipe is actually leaking...if it's got a hole, then you can go buy a flexpipe patch-up kit and fix it yourself, but if it's leaking at the seals, then take it to a shop...I'd say around $200 from an independent shop

[troy]

You can pick up an aftermarket flex pipe for cheap, and go to a cheap muffler place that'll weld it on for even cheaper.

[YOTA_Power]

^what he said any muffle shope 150$ or less for 2/5"flex pipe and installation

[Camry92LE]

yeah won't be too expensive, but make sure you go to a mechanic shop. . . most dealerships don't replace just the flex setion. . but the whole damn pipe. camrys are proned to broken flex sections. But I got mine replaced about a year ago. . shouldn't be too bad.

[green94camry]

Hi I just replaced my enitre Y pipe today. It took me 15 minutes to install it. My original Y pipe started leaking 2 years ago, had it welded and the manifold flange gasket replaced for about $80.00, started leaking again 1 year ago and had it welded again for 60.00. This time it leaked again about a year to the day from the last time, guy wanted 150 to weld it this time, since it was the small flex section that had a rip in it. Forget it I said, and finally woke up!!!! Did some shopping locally at different parts suppliers and found a Bosal Y pipe including new gaskets for 172.00.

I unbolted my original Y pipe from both exhaust manifolds and cut the pipe with a sawzall just behind the cat converter and removed the pipe assembly, went to the parts store and ordered the new flex pipe and enjooyed my thanksgiving with thoughts of the exaust shop guys loosing out on their 150.00 to do a patch job on my original rusting Y pipe-too bad for them.

It's a very easy job just do it yourself everything bolts on. I really didnt even have to cut the converter out but the OE bolts were rusted to the flange, when I did cut them with the swazall they just fell right out of the flange. That 172 also includes 2 bolts and lock washers to replace the rusted cat conv flange bolts.

Patch welds dont last very long, you'll be a yearly regular at the exhaust shop , just buy a new aftermarket pipe that will last another 100,000 miles and let hte exaust shops ripp off someone else.

[Erbe]

hell...for that price you can get bosal headers and a full out exhaust

[green94camry]

I Finished the Y pipe replacement today. I discovered that it is best to tighten the front most exaust manifold Y pipe flange bolt with the engine hot, Initially when I started the car it was leaking at that flange got under the car while it was still running(up on jack stands of course) and cranked down those flange bolts with a 1/2" 14 MM socket and 6" extension and the leak magically stopped. I used a 2 1/2" O.D. exaust pipe connector to re-attach the converter to the mid pipe since I had cut it off when I removed the flex pipe and converter.

The V6 is sooo quiet now, and I have a rejection sticker on the car now that will be gone on monday! I'll be doing my own exhaust work from now on. My cat converter is good but the front flange is warped so it has a very minor "air leak" theres no "sound" comming out though, and I used a new thick gasket there but I'll be mig welding that when I get my weld kit. I am free from exhaust shops FOREVER!

[green94camry]

...also some of the replys in this thread are for quotes of price for a shop simply weldinng a new 6" flex section of the Y pipe to patch the leak, and most shops want up to 150 justr to do that, it is a major rip off!-those small flex sections that they weld to your y pipe only cost 30-40 and takes them all of 10 minutes to cut the old section out and weld on the new section. When I brought my camry to a place that did custom welding they replaced the flange behind the converter with a small section of 2.5 inch pipe for 30 bucks. Started the car up and it was still just asa loud as it was when i drove in. They took another look and said it was leaking from the small flex section of the Y pipe and wanted 150 bucks to do the same thing they had just done to replace the flange behind the converter for 30 bucks...I asked them why it costs 120 dolklars more to do what they had just done to the converterflange for 30...and he said that is just what we charge....at this point I am looking at him and this sops reputation is taking a major dive. I replaced the entire Y pipe from the manifold to the converter for 172.00, average price for an exaust shop woould be 600.

Don't let shops patch up your Y pipes by welding on new flex sections and charge you 150 to do it, as you can replace your entire front exaust Y pipe for 20 bucks more.