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hd071502
06-10-2008, 04:15 PM
The flex piece connecting the manifold to the exhaust broke today. What are my options to replace this part. I see nothing listed as aftermarket except catback systems. Am I stuck going through Saturn for this part. My whole exhaust system is in rough shape, (100,000 miles of Wisconsin weather), it's going to need the timing belt and waterpump changed soon as well. Looks like the otherwise inexpensive vue is going to cost me some money now!
Tom92SCm
06-10-2008, 04:36 PM
Just head to an exhaust shop. They should be able to weld in a new flex joint fairly inexpensively. It's a fairly common occurance up there.
downtownbrown
06-10-2008, 04:42 PM
I had my flex pipe replaced, some hangars replaced and a piece of pipe replaced behind my cat-converter all for $220 (I think the flex pipe was $150) at a custom exhaust place in Toronto. Should be roughly that amount anywhere. Don't go to the dealer!
hd071502
06-10-2008, 05:30 PM
Exhaust shop is going to weld the flange where it broke. Should just cost me labor costs. Also when it was up in the air, we noticed support bearing for driveshaft was bad, I'll get that done right away too. I'll post back final results when done. Goes in Thursday morning.
hd071502
06-14-2008, 10:32 AM
To follow up, shop did weld the flange, it was totaly broke from the flex pipe. They tacked it , removed it, and put a full bead around it, and reinstalled. They did a great job for $130.00. The driveshaft support bearing was shot, totally separated from the rubber. Had to buy that through Saturn for $187.00. (They sure must be proud of that bearing). That cost an additional $130.00 to have installed. Now I'm back on the road again.
BobbyP
06-14-2008, 12:00 PM
My FWD cars before my Saturns never had a woven flex joint.

Was this a 90's innovation? Or a Saturn thing?
Vuedoo Child
06-14-2008, 01:14 PM
Actually a lot of manufactures use flex joints. Not on all-wheel drive either. For example, Ford uses them, and on Escorts, it was pretty common for them to go after years... Same on the Windstars too. Jaguar uses them on some models as well, though one of those is an AWD model. I believe it must have something to do with engine roll, and this being an effective means to keeping the rest of the exhaust in place while the engine does it's thing.