Flexi Exhaust Connection failing - repair options that may help

[JimTraining]

Hello, I have noticed that the flexible connectors on my exhaust downpipes (pre CAT) are starting to fail with the wire covering breaking away from the welded collar and no doubt the corrugated coupling will fail next. No doubt the MOT will fail on this too.

Mine is a ASN engined quattro so has two downpipes, two cats etc etc. Price wise I am guessing £600+ for the parts and probably a scrap car with the labour!

So, I have started to look around for repair options and found a couple of firms who can supply bits of exhausts and it looks like you can buy the component to replace the failed item. Plan will be to carefully measure existing one, order one with an internal diameter to suit OD of existing pipe plus clamps then saw out the old coupling and fit the replacement with clamps.

If you are going to have a go at this, I will be using a reciprocating saw and plenty of care including a vacuum down the pipe to prevent swarf related merriment around the cat / oxygen sensors. If you do use a grinder have a powder or CO2 extinguisher handy as fires usually happen when the extinguisher is in the next village..

So, no doubt there are lots of firms that offer this and if anyone i.e. sponsors already offer a repair kit I am all ears.

Firm I have found so far is: http://exhaustpartsuk.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1351 with a nice measuring guide: http://exhaustpartsuk.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=9 so a £30 or so repair per pipe including clamps!

I will no doubt ignore this for ages and the MOT will come along and I will come looking for this post and update.

Cheers

16903

[NickPicks]

I just had one of mine done by Topgear Aylesbury (http://www.topgearaylesbury.co.uk/) for £150. They seem to have done a good job - they welded in a new flexi, and moved the cat forward about an inch to make it all fit right. They did say that repairing the original Audi cat was a better option than replacing with an after market one.

I previously had the other side replaced with an after market cat for £190, although due to a mess up by the parts supplier, it should have been £300, which ould have meant that I'd have had them both welded.

[Howdy A6]

Just had one of the flexi's done on my 3.0 ltr £150 all in.

[blackie781]

Theres a b4st4rd!!!!! Just paid 460 notes for an aftermarket cat to be fitted!!! :zx11: needed a center box too but found it cheaper to get the center box taken out and stainless custom pipes put in! AAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[blackie781]

I am absolutely gutted! Always happens, pay through the nose then find a ridiculously cheaper option!

So gutted had to post twice just to show my annoyance with myself! :aargh4::aargh4::aargh4: