nodima

A weld in the exhaust on my 2000 has let go. On the drivers side, just in front of the rear axle, the long pipe has separated from the flange. Trying to ascertain my options for repair. The exhaust is some sort of aftermarket, but the PO did not have a name, nor have I ever found a logo or anything on it. The pipe after the cats is an H pipe, not an X pipe. Not sure if that is original or aftermarket.

Is this weldable?
Can just the pipes between the cats and the exhaust at the axle be replaced?
Do I need an entire new exhaust?

One local place was advising towards full replacement, due to age and the thought that SS will let go after 8-10 years. No idea how long the exhaust has been on car, I've owned it for 8 years, and FWIW, it is only at 48k. I have no issue with the sound or the performance of existing exhaust, so I don't need/want something new for those reasons. I don't have pictures of the tips, which are 4 rounded rectangles.

Pics below

Second view

grantv

If it's an H pipe it's almost assuredly stock = aluminized steel. Any decent exhaust shop can fix this (fairly common) problem.
P.S. I would check your cats for major discoloration tho. And there are a lot of used mid sections out there, another option.

Vetteman Jack

I would think that the pieces can be welded back together and your problem would be taken care of. Check with a good muffler shop and see what they say.

K-Spaz

It was welded once so it most certainly can be welded again. It'll need a lot of cleaning up first or you'll be back in the same boat.

if I was doing it I would probably clean it up as much as possible in the car, tack it in the car and then remove the thing and complete the weld. But that's just me.

Simtech

One local place was advising towards full replacement, due to age and the thought that SS will let go after 8-10 years

I would also find a different shop. They are just trying to make a lot of money for something that should be relatively cheap.

grantv

Keeping in mind that they said SS let's go after 8-10 years... even though the exhaust is not SS.

Bill Curlee

LOL!!! The owner of the Shop has a Kids college Tuition payment due!!! LMAO.

Find a better shop that will just weld it back up without all the rigmarole and heart bleed and wallet wringing.

Just make sure that who ever does it that they clean up the surfaces well and PROPERLY re-align the flange to properly mate with the CAT back flange.

FACT,, The stock OEM mid pipe and cat back were made of ALUMINIZED STEEL and it does "HELP" prevent rust and last a long time...

nodima

Thanks, I had replied yesterday, but somehow it did not save.

Went to another shop last night, and they seemed to think it would be easy enough to weld. Though he was also very surprised when I told him it was not SS. Anyway, we'll find a day next week, weather permitting, and I'll get it over to him.

nodima

Got car back last Thurs, mechanic was able to easily weld the broken pipe, and found the other one was partially letting go and fixed that one as well. Everything worked out as hoped, bill was ~$100 so super happy.

The funny part is that he called me **** at least 3 times, due to how clean the car is underneath! I'm taking this as a compliment.

terryg

Corvette Central has a repair kit that takes care of this issue. I had to do one on my C5 about 3 years ago.

terryg

For anyone else who has this occur Corvette Central offers a repair flange that sells for $16 that makes this an easy fix without welding.

GCG

In case someone is wondering how it looks: