Historically, ever since the stock Y pipe went bad after 15 years on my 02 Max, I've been replacing the Y pipe about every 2 years as it always rusts at the flex pipe where it connects to the actual Y pipe.
My last purchase was an AP/Eastern Y pipe last February 2023 and it's already rusted and leaking air sounding like crap. So, this last one hasn't even lasted the usual 2 years; 15 months.

This is getting out of hand with the replacements every 2 years or less. Are there any options for the Y pipe that will last longer whether it be stainless steel or anything that will last more than just barely 2 years?
This is the only problem that I've had for the last 8 years and it's very annoying. At 200K this vehicle still has a lot of life left.

Any suggestions are appreciated, thanks!

 

post some pics so we can see how it looks..

do you live in an area where it snows?

 

Northeast, so yes, it snows.

I don't have any pics. Flex pipe always rots and develops a hole until it fully rots off the Y pipe.

 

Have an exhaust shop weld in a stainless flex.

 

I guess, that's an option isn't it.
I tried to look for a Y pipe that's stainless steel including the flex pipe but I haven't been able to find one.
Otherwise, I have to locate a good shop around here. Last shop I went to they said they couldn't weld it. Instead they tried to sell me a $2500 exhaust system. I said, I can install one myself for less than $500. Good bye.

 

Have you seen this one?
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/b...xima/year/2002
409 stainless

 

Don't go to any chain shops for they will just try to upsell. Find a mom & pop shop and they can do it for a decent price. I had my flex replaced a few years ago and I forget what I paid but it was reasonable, from a single guy shop that does cash only transactions (in Queens, NYC)

 

Wrapped my Budget Y pipe flex section with exhaust wrap. Survived many Chicago winters.

 

I hear you, but this one was not a chain and a recommended shop out here in CT. If I could weld I'd done it myself. About the only thing I can't do is weld

 

Interesting. I would've thought the extra heat would've created more condensation and trapped water vapor and make it rust faster.
Good to know. I do have quite a bit of exhaust wrap. Never even thought about doing this.

 

Amongs all the searches I did not come upon that one. Thanks for finding that.
IT does say stainless, does that mean the flex pipe is stainless as well?

 

409 is a low grade stainless and will rust out. itll take longer than mild steel.

ive been in my current shop for 9 years now and have never seen a non-stainless flex. we specialize in exhaust. maybe theyre out there but we dont carry them. if you want it to last buy a y-pipe from nissan. itll easily last the longest. next best option is have a local shop build you a y-pipe out of stainless.

 

Thanks for your input.

How does that 409 stainless steel compare to aluminized steel?
​​​​​I can get the aluminized steel for half the price so if this 409 stainless steel is only going to last a few more months over aluminized steel, then it's not worth it pay extra.

Shop is an option. I would not pay extra to buy from a local dealer, they always rip you off.

 

I know that Warpspeed makes a y pipe that is supposed to be half decent. It looks like it's $360 shipped.

http://www.warpspeedperformance.com/...ust-parts.html

 

in my area (we dont salt) aluminized will last 5-7 years. i havent seen 409 fail yet. itll get little spots of rust but ive seen cars come in that we did 15 years ago and the piping is still in excellent condition.

 

Huh, wish I had better luck. Aluminized at best I get 2 years.
Actually, the rest of the pipe itself is intact, it's just the flex pipe that rots and starts leaking.

On that note, I did call BRE Exhaust, none other than Magnaflow.

They did say that the flex pipe itself is aluminized so I don't think it makes any sense for me to buy a stainless steel Y pipe for $351 that still has an aluminized flex pipe that will rot out as equally fast as the cheaper Y pipe. I just have to get stainless steel flex pipe welded on that Y pipe at this point.

 

The Warpspeed Y on my 98, flex lasted 7 years. How many of that was with a collapsed flex I wonder. The pipe was in OK shape. https://maxima.org/forums/4th-genera...literally.html

The Redline Y pipe on my Altima, flex lasted 4.5 years. The pipe was in good shape.I replaced the flex myself but the car go totaled shortly after.

I have to assume my 99 has the original Y. The flex looks crappy on the outside. I have a cheap aftermarket replacement on the shelf if I need it.

There have been a few Y pipes with a different design, no flex. Maybe you can get an exhaust shop to come up with something similar.
http://greghome.com/Greg's%20Garage/...0Prototype.htm
https://maxima.org/forums/4th-genera...ed-y-pipe.html (open pictures in a new window to see them w/o the water mark).

 

I do wonder if once the flex pipe is out of the equation, if the motor torquing left and right, if that would start cracking the pipe anywhere before where the flex would be. As far as noise, I wouldn't care. At 200K, there are all sorts of noises that I hear from the car. Comes with age.

Thanks for the links.

 

maybe a donut flange would be a better option. I was going to go with one next but the last flex pipe I had installed on my Warpspeed Y has been doing ok.

 

That looks like what WSP tried with the Super Flo Y.

 

back when I had my 5 speed V6 Contour they used a donut flange and it never gave me any problems, same with my CRX and all the 90's 4 cylinder Hondas...

 

Hmmm. Does look tempting. Looks like it would give a tiny bit of way vs haveing flange up without the donut. I'll look into that option. Thanks!

 

I tried to contact warpspeed on the number they have on their site and nothing. I called 3 times throughout the day and no call back so, there goes that. Even left a VM. If it's a business and I call in the morning and by afternoon there's no call back, them I'm turned off. I need a solution now, not days from now.

So, next. I'll have to go a diff route.

Funny, I just found this old thread:
Installed a Warpspeed Y-pipe, not impressed with quality - Maxima Forums

I will not be going with them for sure

 

yea got 2 warpspeed y-pipes over the years and each time after x3 north east winters the flex section rusted out, on the 2nd one ( 6 years) i got a trash chain company to weld in a custom flex section while keeping the remaining warpspeed pipe sections

 

the original flex pipe on my Warpspeed Y didn't last long, it was to stiff and didn't flex... I had installed it on 9/3/21 and by 3/23/22 it had already failed. I live in central Florida where cars don't rust out. it took me a few tries but the flex I have now has help up really good. over the past year..

 

Even more confirmation to not get a hyper super expensive Y pipe from them so the flex pipe section rusts out. At this point, I'll just get a Y pipe from Rock Auto (I despise them too but they're cheapest)
I tried a local shop and they said close to $100 to weld a new flex pipe. For another $100, I'll just go get an entire new Y pipe that will rust just as fast.

 

Crazy, that their flex pipe would rust so quckly. Why are they charging so much money for the same stuff.

 

mine didn't rust out it just split. the flex pipe on the Warpspeed Y was real stiff and had no flex.. the OEM Y pipe came with a pretty long flex pipe..

 

Gotcha, Yes, the stock y pipe has a very long flex pipe in it. Yeah, something is going to give eventually. So, the idea of just putting a donut flange isn't great either.

 

the donut flange is able to rotate on the donut and the spring keeps pressure on it so it seals really good. it's also easy to change the donut if it ever goes bad. the donut flange on my CRX never gave me any problems. even when the old rusty upper tranny mount bracket broke and the engine and tranny sagged real bad.

here's a pic of the second flex that was put on my Warpspeed Y and I guess couldn't handle the heat, it collapsed internally..

 

Wow, it collapsed allright!
I went with another Y pipe from RockAuto, cheapest and easiest thing at this point. I installed it over the weekend. Next year, I'll hopefully be welding my own pipe. I'm on a mission...