Redneck Truck

Car started sounding awfully loud inside, rolled down the window and it sounds like crap. Air is leaking from the flex pipe, which is pretty common, as I understand. I was thinking about changing to a different exhaust system anyway, and was curious if

1) there was a way to eliminate flex pipes, or at least install some flex pipes that don't fatigue so easily

2) it failed for any particular reason. It got loud after a bit of spirited driving, which leads me to wonder if motor mount squish allowed the motor to move relative to the exhaust system and caused the failure.

When replacing flex pipes, where else should I check for failures, and which flex pipes should I use, if not new OEM down pipes?

2.7Lturbo

im going to pretend you didnt say that

Johann2.7t

Why is that? I've never had a car with a flex pipe. Seems to me it's a solution for crappy engineering.

Redneck Truck

How many of your 661 posts were a complete waste of bandwidth?

Kris Hansen

Because the engine is not solidly mounted, nor is the exhaust. If there was no flex joint, the weak link would be the piping, welds, or the headers, or , or, or.. Some cars have a ball type pivot, with springs for tension, but they have their own issues.

Short answer is, yes, ALL cars have some sort of flexible joint somewhere in the exhaust, to prevent self-injury.

2.7Lturbo

thank you kris..... seriously everyone buy corkey bells turbocharging book, and look at the exhaust section and redneck, all 661 posts are complete wastes of bandwith! haha

SloopJohnB@mac.com

None of my Saab 900 turbo cars up to 1987 had flex pipes. They also had hydraulic engine mounts.

2.7Lturbo

that is pretty effing cool sloop what were the reasons from migrating away from the hydrualic mounts?

Johann2.7t

Pretty sure my 4.4l v8 BMW didn't have any flex pipes or joints just two sections of stainless steel. No problems whatsoever and trust me that motor thrashed about!

Redneck Truck

I'm thinking I'm just going to go to a muffler shop tomorrow and have them handle it. Maybe they can delete the cats while they're at it.