Hole in flex pipe

[karl_karl]

Just recently got a hole in my flex pipe...local exhaust shops want $170 plus tax to weld a new one on....I found complete flex pipe/cat pipes for $230 in Toronto. Am I better off just putting the weld on or going for the full pipe. Has anyone had instances of their original cat developing a hole or the pipes surrounding the flex pipe?

Thanks,
Karl

[turkeyt49]

If you can do any wrench work you can unbolt at the cat. conv. and unbolt y pipe from manifold and drop the front exhaust. Advance Auto carries some of the flex pipes. I got mine from Jegs. If you know someone with a mig welder they can weld a new one on. You can cut the old one out with a mataba grinder or use a sawsall. Leave as much neck on the pipe as possible. There is not much there and you need to grind the pipe as even as possible to allow the new one to match up. They come in different diam. so measure the pipe size. Have them tack the new one on and get it where you want it and the job can be finished off the car. Takes a couple hours. and cost about 30 bucks. You have to have a welder person or you are going be at the shops mercy. Usually you don't have holes in pipe up there because that is some stronger original equipment steel. That flex pipe can make a racket because evertime you hit a bump you get a different sound. You might check on Ebay and get the y and flex pipe there cheaper if someone has them. Hope this helps

[karl_karl]

That's beyond my capability...I just don't want to replace this flex pipe only to have some other part of the Y pipe go on me...the replacement parts I found on ebay look kind of cheap and are only warranted for 2 years.

[robcam13]

normally its only the flex pipe that goes bad.

[turkeyt49]

I don't put much faith in some warranties. These companies know if something that weighs that much goes bad it cost way too much to send it back. I would go with what you can afford. As i said before those y pipes ar pretty tough metal. Those Canadian winters will be tough on whatever you choose anyway.

[BonzoGonzo]

ebay is a great place to buy flex pipes. i bought one for $17 that is 10 inches long and the right size (2.5 inch, i think?) then all i had to do was get it welded on... i used to live in toronto and i know you will get a hassle. maybe go to trenton or somewhere....

[karl_karl]

Ended up getting the old flex pipe cut out and a new one welded in. Shop quoted me $170 plus over phone, ended up being $235 with tax after all said and done.