OK. I have asked this before, but I need to know without any doubt before I order the pipe.
I have an exhaust leak at the "flex" pipe. The part that connects the exhaust to the engine and is connected to the manifolds. I asked the dealership and reported before that the price for a new one was $731. I found out that this also includes the cat converter. The parts guy told me that the Max has 2 cats, and that this exhaust pipe sold by Nissan comes with a new cat. All I want to do is to fid the exhaust leak...Help.....
Ideas on what to do?

 

i dont know what theyre talking about. i know that the y-pipe includes two (i think) pre-cats, which act as the catalytic converter until the main one warms up as the car warms up. do the math... new stock y-pipe = $731... performance y-pipe (+15hp) = $150-$350, seems pretty simple to me

 

Just want to make sure that it is the right part.

 

if u buy that from the stealership, ur dum

 

Not planning on buying from dealership, but have to use comparison..ah right...So now looking for y-pipe, and also to see if value in replacing entire exhaust system...

 

go with budget ss y-pipe. $201 shiped i believe.

 

for half of what the dealership wants...

you could get a cattman y-pipe, the ultimate y-pipe for our maximas...

i say get the cattman...

 

I don't get it. If you have a leak at the "flex" section only why not go to a local muffler shop and have them replace the flex section. That's what I did when i had a leak. The shop charged me $60 bucks. Is that the only problem you have with your exhaust? If so, I don't see why you would want to spend $200-300 unless you want to replace the entire exhaust for performance parts. Just my .02

 

yeah, see if they can fix that flex section first. But honestly, the y-pipe is worth the $$$ in performance gains, I love mine!

And please do not buy a stock y-pipe from the dealer, that price makes baby Jesus want to cry.

 

actually it's not as simple as you think. Can't you understand that some people like OEM parts instead of POS made in China or Canada parts? Yes, a performance y-pipe may gain you 15hp or whatever much, but it sure as hell is NOT in any way or form like the stock y-pipe.

here's a new formula for you:

new stock y-pipe = $731 = increased longetivity of your Maxima
performance y-pipe = $150 - $350 = problems, whether it'd be the "flex" or all the other issues we read at least 5 threads about each day - "...my y-pipe this...my y-pipe that, my pipe is loud, my flex makes bees in the can, my pipe killed my car etc..."

 

Interesting points. I will have to consider all. I am concerned that the rest of the exhaust as I was looking at it today has alot of wear and tear. So things to consider

 

budget y doesn't have a bees in the can sound, increases power, and doesnt kill your car.

i'll take my friend's phrase, he's a VW driver...

"If you break it, Quaife it"

which means, if it breaks, buy something better in its place...no point in spending all that money on something that gives your car no enhancement on top of stock.

 

undefinedundefinedundefinedI have a budget Y-pipe myself, bought it back in July of 2004. I live in Boston and we had like 4 snow storms and the y-pipe is still in great condition. Budget Exhaust now has a t-304 Stainless Steel Y-pipe fully polished for about $200CAN ($160US), I would definitely recommend getting that. As for the bees in the can thing, I don't even hear a hiss from my collector during WOT. Cattman and stillen are nice, but a rip off if you ask me.....wayy too expensive for a mandrel bent piping.

 

oh by the way, nissan uses aluminized steel for their exhaust components, so they rust like a biatchhh....my stock y-pipe removed was pretty grimey.

 

get an aftermarket Y-pipe. u'll have better air flow, u'll be missing ur 2 pre-cats, but thats ok cause ur main cat will be warmed up in 15 min if that. sooooo u choose.

 

get a cattman pipe if it saves you alot of money, i bought one used. less soudn than a warspeed and it donest rust.

but if your not of the performance mind, then i suggest you take it to a shop and get a new flex section put on there thatll run you a $100 at most and itll solve your issues.

 

well there are different y-pipes out there. i have never heard anybody complain about a cattmann y-pipe or the budget y-pipe. every time i hear somebody complaining its always the same aluminzed steel warpspeed y-pipe.

 

Like everyone else said, you can go with an aftermarket y-pipe, but also consider the org. classifieds for maybe a good condition stock y-pipe.