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Flex pipe repair and or replacement


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CoachKyle4
New User

May 9, 2016, 8:47 PM

Post #1 of 5 (2018 views)
post icon Flex pipe repair and or replacement Sign In

This is my first post on any forum ever so please if I am posting this in the wrong spot or breaking any other sort of protocol please let me know.
I have a 2004 Nissan Altima 4 cylinder (the title says s/sl if that matters) that has a baseball sized hole in the flex pipe (not sure if that is what it really is called but other people have referred to it that way. It is the pipe that comes right after the one that comes down from the manifold and looks like an aluminum wicker basket) I have tried the repair kits for it, where you take a sheet of aluminum and clamp down both sides and it blew out after a day. After that I tried the aluminum sheet clamp and exhaust tape, and that lasted about 3 days before it gave out. What I really would like to know is how I can find and buy the parts from the manifold to the catalytic converter and if any welding is needed to install them, or if there's another way to fix this on my own.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

May 10, 2016, 1:47 AM

Post #2 of 5 (2008 views)
Re: Flex pipe repair and or replacement Sign In

OK - tapes, putty and patches wont work as you found out. OE set up seems to be like this...........

That should be the easy fix but includes all welded in parts including converter for a chunk of change and still the best fix long term for at your cost over $300 bucks for that + gaskets and hangars as needed.


Option that can work is a real "muffler shop" that will have a piece to weld in but is a commitment then IMO as you wont fuss with it well again. Look for realistic generic flex pipe with ID and OD diameters and length of it and if you can cleanly cut your bad one out and clamp it in.
Chances are not so good for a long last fix without tossing the whole pipe, flex pipe included. Your money and IMO not easy without good cutting and welding equipment best or buy all new,


T



CoachKyle4
New User

May 14, 2016, 11:33 PM

Post #3 of 5 (1892 views)
Re: Flex pipe repair and or replacement Sign In

Thank you so much for your advice. I found the same part online for only 170$ but I had to wait a few days for it to get here. It arrived today! Wanting to make sure I installed it properly and had all the gaskets, and bolts I need before I started I watched a few YouTube videos to make double check. Sure enough each video stated that the bolts connected to the catalytic converter are usually unsalvageabl. So on my half mile drive home a loud grinding starts and I pull over to see that the pipe that connects the muffler has broken in half and was dragging on the road. I checked wired it up and pushed it the rest of the way home. Sorry for the long story I just couldn't believe the luck. My question is again without welding can I just replace that pipe or do I need to replace everything up until the part you previously suggested that I now have. If it matters the pipe is only broken about 3 inches away where it attaches to the muffler, but it is a clean break.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

May 15, 2016, 1:26 AM

Post #4 of 5 (1890 views)
Re: Flex pipe repair and or replacement Sign In

You can patch over those clean looking breaks as a patch. The repair is to toss all that out as it has proven it's rusted inside, unseen - all of it. Smile, I call that do the system azzhole to appitite! Anything less you risk just what happened.

YouTube can be great but take it all with a grain of salt as it's NOT you specific car or its specific condition.

The hardware, gasket and hangars are part of the whole deal too. Nuts, bolts, clamps generally impossible to re-use and best if new anyway. Hope yours are bolt thru and not blind threaded holes which are much more difficult to deal with for things.

Tricks and common sense: Bolt thru and heavily corroded bolts and some clamps to be removed it's easier to tighten them till they bust then just use new. Use of the product called "anti-seize" which is a grease in a container brush in cap stuff really works. If back there years later things come apart without excessive hassle most of the time.

Do find exact fit parts and know that if you have a spot patch welding in a section you are stuck to do that or have that repaired that way again and again or be done with it with new for a long time hopefully.

Quality of parts even exact fit varies and so does the cost. You are the boss just know cheaper isn't the cheapest for much in the longer run and a good choice for a short expectation with lots of things, exhaust included.

Good luck. Think this will go lots easier if you just do the rest of the system and get over some expense which cars are no matter what you do!

Tom



nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

May 20, 2016, 2:45 AM

Post #5 of 5 (1871 views)
Re: Flex pipe repair and or replacement Sign In

For what you paid for that whole replacement pipe with cat you probably could've had a shop weld in a new flexpipe and left your factory converter in the car. I get a lot of these, especially with japanese cars. The flex sections are available on the shelf at parts stores for 20-30 bucks usually. Get the car in the air, saw out the old flew section and weld in a new one. For people that do now have or are not skilled at welding you can use a stainless band clamp by Torc-Tite on each end. I usually charge a bit less than you paid for that pipe even after buying the new gaskets and fasteners for something like that.. You'll have a good fix with your new setup, but I think you would've saved some hassle and some cash too had you taken it to a shop. Not some chain store, a real shop where people have skill with a welder.

If there are 6 hound dogs outside and a weird looking kid playing a banjo, thats not the "old school" type of shop I am suggesting either.






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