Ideas on broken exhaust pipe

[Snake-TSI]

Driving home I noticed my car being a bit louder than usual, I figured one of connections in the exhaust pipe line had become loose and I was totally wrong...

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Here's the situation it's a 98 TSi AWD, the car came with an after market exhaust however it's not a full set up... as in the pipe is 3" up until the 1st gasket (starting from the back) ... and then it goes back down to 2". Correct me if I'm wrong but it should be 3" all the way for it to be of any real usefulness..?

OK as you can tell it rusted through just after/before the connecting bracket. The pipe is connected to the resonator. So

1st option is to pay $60 to have the pipe re-welded back to the bracket, and then disconnect the entire section, clean/grind any rust away and replace the gaskets on both sides. $60+ gaskets and cleaning

2nd option remove the section, buy a connection piece and slide it over the smaller pipe, tighten it with those open brackets and slide the whole thing into the larger 3" pipe. Again clean and replace gaskets on both sides. $20 + gaskets and cleaning.

3rd option is to (in theory) buy just the section that broke off. However no auto store I checked can sell me just the resonator section. They sell the whole thing for $300

Also it seems that because it's not a full kit the old owner cut the stock pipe and welded on a bracket where he needed it. Hence why it rusted through at that same point. Furthermore, the section (the pipe between brackets is what I'm referring to) only measures 16"... I tried looking for a diagram or layout of the stock exhaust system in my repair manual or on-line to compare to and was unsuccessful .. the only thing I can go off of for now is the glances I took at the auto store when I was ordering the part and they show you the layout and it seemed it was a much longer pipe and would explain the $300 they want for it.

Let me know what you think of the situation and what my best option is, if you have a better idea let me know I'm open to any ideas

PS: sorry if it's a bit long and wordy I just want to make sure I didn't miss a detail, if you need any more details just say so

 

[gufi]

from what it sounds like the prev owner decided to put a catback exhaust on the car but left the stock down pipe.

the real options are if this is the case:

A: Buy new downpipe
B: take it to a muffler shop and have one made to replace the pipe.

if you re use that pipe you will just end up with more holes down the road.

 

[Davids97Eclipse]

Yeah make sure you do it right my friend kept re welding his exhaust and it seemed he had another leak every couple of weeks.

 

[Bud92gsx]

I say time for an upgrade.

 

[boosteddsm98]

always want to upgrade if possible, but definatly replace that pipe. The pipe so rusted they would never be able to get a good bead on it.

 

[97tal]

Looks like a good excuse to get a new exhaust

 

[GSTurbo1]

Dude... with all that rust you are better off to take what you have off, scrap it, then either ebay or get a megan racing set up. Really helps the car breathe... you must either live by saltwater or that things runs really hot to have all that rust. And/or you live where the roads are salted a lot from snow. Either way it doesnt look good. scrap it man.

 

[Doubleot]

For 300$ you could probably get a whole exhaust setup from ebay. I wouldn't bother with fixing it, not with that much rust.

 

[Tyaj7133]

Yea, might as well replace it and get a new system.

 

[mattasi]

Yea if you can get a whole new exhaust, it will be worth it.

 

[Creativemind07]

He's right i got my Apexi N1 used for 300 bucks its 2 1/2 off the turbo but its like that for an inch then its 3 inch all the way back. i dont have a cat or the flangs to put one on with out cuting the pipe. but id look into you e-check first. if you dont have e-check go cat delete. cuts down turbo lag like a mofo. plus see if you can find a thermal their the best sounding and they dont have a fart can on them.

 

[KewlWinter]

Definitely time to replace that exhaust. If you cant delete the cat, check into whether your state inspection does the visual verification in addition to the e-check. If not, look into an aftermarket high-flow cat. You can get them in 2.5 and 3 inch sizes from various vendors and they arent all that expensive.

 

[Snake-TSI]

Yup. sorry about the late reply... been working two jobs. I left it as is for now because I'v decided to up-grade I'm just waiting on significant funds which doesn't look to be very soon unfortunately. Car was parked outside for 8 months, 2 of them being winter (long long story filled with love & dedication) so it's no surpise it has rusted pretty bad

Like I've said in the OP half the piping is brand new... the other half appears to be stock... wondering if I can replace just the stock parts I'll have to do a lot of reading before I start looking for parts. Any suggestions where to start?

Thanks for all the tips guys