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Normally, I DIY on all repairs, but in this situation where I have welding skill, but don't have an actual welder available, it's just easier for me to bring the car somewhere and have someone fix this for me.
Here's the issue on my G35x.
I want to simply have the rusting flange cut off, and weld in a short peice of expanded pipe coupling.
Found a few exhaust places locally and need to drop by and get some quotes. Just want to have a ballpark in my head on what this should cost beforehand.
I wouldn't think it would be any more than $150 to do that, including new piping. Unless they find that the old piping is just too rusted to be able to weld to, then... not good.
The pipe is in decent condition. It's just the flange that's rusting out. Pretty common issue on these cars. There is a gasket that is sandwiched between the two flanges, that when tightened forms the seal. Unfortunately, it traps moisture and causes the flange to rust out right at the seal.
Common fix found online other than welding is to cut away the flange, purchase a new gasket and install clamps as shown. Unfortunately, I don't think this method will work for my situation.
Tapping around with a hammer, the piping away from the flange feels plenty solid. I would be surprised if a shop recommended more than 8-12" or so of new piping.
You can simply cut off the flange and use a band coupler. Looks like a big wide piece if exhaust pipe with two bands and a bolt on either side. You tighten the bolts and it compresses the band around the exhaust pipe. It works because a lot of aftermarket Exhaust companies use them in cat back or full exhausts
If you want a new flange welded in, I think I would find a speciality welder before going to an exhaust shop. The exhaust shops tend to just want to replace the full pipes with new ones, and not do spot repairs. At least that has been my experience.
No decent shop will want to touch that, they will want to hang a whole new cat back exhaust. Drive it like you stole it and when it fails completely get a new exhaus. JMHO.
If i let it go, the muffler is going to fall off one day. Considering I drive mostly highway miles at 80MPH...i'd rather not drop a muffler at those speeds.
If nobody will touch it, i'll do it myself. No big deal.
I had done a little "custom" job on my exhaust, mating two different after exhausts together that had good halves of opposite sides. I had everything matched up and cut and read to be welded, all that needed to be done was the weld. 25 dollars and I was done.
When I had them weld a flex pipe in it was 125 including them cutting the exhaust for it to fit and welding it on and the cost of the flex pipe.
Local mexican shop will do it for around $40 in my area. I used to go to the chains before I found the hole in the wall shops. Those guys do excellent work also, proved welding is about the weldor not the welder.
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