Mharvey500

Hi, any ideas how to repair this flex pipe without removing from the vehicle? So it will last a year or two.

If I put aluminum sleeve on this it will rub and wear out. If I put muffler cement it will work loose as the pipe flexes. If I put muffler tape it will harden and restrict movement.

MichMaxFan

I had to have mine repaired as well. The shop cut before and after and put in what is probably cheap aluminized but for now it seems to work. $120.

Beats $300 replacement and then the neighboring parts will prob fall apart as well...so then the job gets more expensive.

I have not had success with exhaust repair such as putty. Others may have but I'm not good at it.

Also...check your motor mounts...the muffler shop found mine were bad and wouldn't do exhaust without me getting them replaced. I got that done then had them do the exhaust. They said bad mounts can make flex pipe go bad.

Mharvey500

I'm thinking to just put a narrow band of tape over the hole. Although the pipe looks bad, only one location is actually leaking. My theory is a narrow band of tape won't interfere too much with the flexing of the pipe. Thankfully I have new motor mounts too.
Unfortunately I've been told it is not an option to replace the flex part of the pipe without taking the whole assembly out to finish the welding job. That is a tedious job because trying to save the O2 sensors might mean disconnecting at the engine and threading the wires down to the pipe. With that said, I was advised it is better to buy a new assembly for $500 (Bosal).

MichMaxFan

I would be talking to someone else if your situation is like mine was. I sayt that because mine was fixed like I said for $120 and in literally 20-25mins.

see my pics and if they help you figure your issue out. See where mine was cut and welded.

Mine is a 2000 and maybe there is a diff from your design to mine but unsure. Not likely though...but possible.

TallTom

A Mom and pop muffler shop can replace it for cheap and quick. I had mine done a year ago for about $100.

Avoid the chain shops like Midus or Mineke.

Mharvey500

Mine is 2000 infiniti i30 but it looks the same. The way it was explained to me is to lightly weld it while the pipes are on the car to fix the orientation of the connectors. Then they take it off and do a full welding. So if it is only welded on the car I'm not sure if all parts of the pipe can be reached. Maybe it will be strong enough not to matter. I will present this idea if and when it comes to that. For now I will try the $5 muffler tape solution.

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

I would've used the Vibrant Performance TurboFlex coupling with interlock liner and it's an over engineered component used for boosted cars but should last forever on a N/A car....

Mharvey500

So I had it done this way for $110. They just welded in a new flex pipe section and kept all the old pipe.

Reality sucks

iTrader: (3)

Glad you fixed it. Buy Once, Cry Once.. There is no quick or simple solution to fixing this, other then welding in a New...