Audi a4 1800 petrol exhaust flexible coupling replacement

[amatty]

The flexible coupling just before the cat has broken up and the car sounds like an old tractor.

It seems that I can either replace the cat/flex/double down pipe as one unit as fitted originally, or replace the cat and downpipe with two flanged parts. Is fitting the one piece part difficult and is the two part solution easier to fit please ?

Another would seem to be to cut out the old flex coupling and replace it with a 600mm internal diameter one which can be bought for around £25 in various different lengths but may have to be welded in if the ends do not fit properly over the pipes from the cat and engine downpipe.

Are there any problems fitting the replacement exhaust - it looks quite difficult to get to the nuts on the exhaust manifold.

Matty

[size12]

It's not particularly difficult to do, much easier if you have a ramp available.
When mine went I bought a new flexi and welded it in. It still all have to come off though.
One top tip is to get the engine nice and warm so the down pipe nuts come out easier.