Exhaust / Muffler question

[VXD959]

Trying not to hijack Vinnybin's :hj: , and using the pictures posted there by JAMAS...My VX started to sound very loud over the weekend. I checked under the VX today, and the issue seems to be the section highlighted in the picture.

Question:
What is that section?
Can I just replace that section?
Should I replace the whole muffler?

Thanks in advance for your advice.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/muffler.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=23649)

[bartmanS4]

You can just replace the leaking flex section.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/ROL0/513406/N0075.oap?ck=Search_exhaust+flex_N0075_1363272_-1&keyword=exhaust+flex&pt=N0075&ppt=C0022

[Vendetta]

Yeah, any muffler shop should be able to swap that out. 'Round here in NY, it would be about $125 including labor.

You might consider changing the muffler too while you're in the shop. Do your homework though. Muffler sounds, like people's preferences for them, vary wildly here on the forums.

-V

[tom4bren]

What is that section?
Can I just replace that section?
Should I replace the whole muffler?

Yah, that's your flex pipe. They do eventually wear out & they aren't OEM specific. Just about any muffler shop will have one on hand that'll work so don't go searching around for an Isuzu one.

Failure of the flex pipe should NOT be considered to indicate that the muffler is shot too. Whilst they are putting the new flex pipe in though they can check to see if your muffler is in need of replacement.

[89Vette]

Flex pipes can/should sell in the $30-$40 range.

Examples....
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/3A-Racing-2-in-i-d-x-10-in-length-flexible-exhaust-connector/_/N-257z?itemIdentifier=30647&_requestid=47286
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Bosal-2-in-i-d-x-10-1-2-in-length-flexible-exhaust-connector/_/N-257z?itemIdentifier=424715&_requestid=48343


Both the links above sell for $27.99 to my zip code. That's w/o shipping.

[VXD959]

Thank you guys!!! Very useful information. I will take the VX to a muffler place and find out.

[VXD959]

Installing flex pipe and Flowmaster 40 tomorrow morning. $250 + tax total at local muffler shop.

[Vendetta]

We expect a detailed summary including sound clips when complete. Thank you, carry on. :)

-V

[VXD959]

Installed flex pipe and flowmaster. Pics below. The muffler guy told me that he needed to install the muffler kind of sideways due to the existing piping in/out set-up?

It sounds nice though. Not too much but not too little. Similar to the youtube videos (search vehicross flowmaster 40).

Flex Pipe
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/0037.JPG

Flowmaster
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/0026.JPG

Flowmaster sideways
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/0103.JPG

[Leon R]

A more pressing question: why do we even have a flex section? It is between the two "Y sections". What flexes between them to require a flex section?

[tom4bren]

I kinda thought the same thing. The flex pipe on the VX is in the wrong place.:_shrug:

[Leon R]

I am thinking of making my own custom "cat-delete" y-section, but without the flex...

[44ficus44]

sure hate to hit a bump with the sideways muff.... oups there it goes and took the whole exaust system with it :(

[89Vette]

A more pressing question: why do we even have a flex section? It is between the two "Y sections". What flexes between them to require a flex section?

My shop explained that these are used on transverse mounted engines where side-torquing increases/decreases the distance from the manifold to the [static] pipe location. That makes sense.

Since our engines aren't mounted sideways, the use of this piece must be to dampen vibration down one side of the "Y". I'm guessing that "halfing" the vibration to the "unioned" junction might have resulting in some reduction of pipe vibration.

I tried one in my Corvette -- and it made vibration WORSE! LOL Took them out the following week. (I put one on both sides.)

[Gizmo42]

I wouldnt have let them install a muffler that way in mine. Would have made them get the proper one.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c337/Gizmo420/Img_0647.jpg

[H3_VX]

I had a new flex pipe welded on mine for like $120. Now need to get a new muffler also.

[Leon R]

My shop explained that these are used on transverse mounted engines where side-torquing increases/decreases the distance from the manifold to the [static] pipe location. That makes sense.

Since our engines aren't mounted sideways, the use of this piece must be to dampen vibration down one side of the "Y". I'm guessing that "halfing" the vibration to the "unioned" junction might have resulting in some reduction of pipe vibration.


I am not sure how it can make a difference ether way.

But... i think that I found a reason for the flex section! We have a very LONG y-section, after you apply manufacturing tolerances to it, you might be off by quite a bit! So, adding a flex section allows you to relax some of those tolerances.

It is one thing to fab up a y-section on the car (I do not believe that it would require a flex section). However making this y-section on a jig, might be much easier when you have such flex section.