Hey all, I just recently purchased my 2000 A4 2.8L Quattro, and I really do love it. One of the few problems with it is an exhaust leak. I took a few pictures and will try to attach them onto this (first time trying to get pics on here). I am in need of advice on how to go about fixing this. The exhaust leak is bearable and isn't too loud actually. However, you can hear the "puttering" sound when driving. The first place I felt exhaust escaping from is where the clamp is on the picture. You will see it is all brittle and whatnot. However, that is not where the noise is coming from. The noise is coming up from where it looks as if it is a boot. There is a lot of air escaping from this when I put my hand up to it and it sounds like this is exactly where the noise is coming from.

My question is how should I go about replacing these? I have found clamps online to replace the one that is all brittle for fairly cheap. However, I'm not sure how to go about fixing the one main leak? Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.

 

For some reason the pictures all showed up upside down. Anyways, the first two pictures is where the main noise exhaust is leaking from. Im not even positive, but in that "boot" looking piece the flex pipe? Thanks for your input guys and advice on how to fix this/repair this.

 

It appears that both of your flex joints are toast. Unfortunately, the down pipes including the flex joint and catalytic converter are sold as a single piece and are very expensive. An alternative to replacing the entire down pipe is to find a small exhaust shop that will cut out the failed joints and weld in replacements.

 

So you think it would be fine to take to a muffler shop and just have them cut off right before the catalytic converters and weld in some new pipes on both sides? Do you have to have a flex pipe or is just straight piping fine to use here?

 

You should have them weld in new flex joints. The flex part is there to keep engine movement/vibration from cracking the rest of the exhaust.

 

Are the exhaust parts the same on the A4 1.8L and my A4 2.8L? I am searching online to buy a new flex pipe and always coming up with tons of parts for the 1.8L but not my 2.8L.

Also, if I take it to a shop would they most likely have a flex pipe that they would use, or would i need to purchase one to bring in to them? Thanks for the help.

 

Well, I called a local muffler shop and they said they would cut out the old flex pipe and weld in another one for $85 in about 30-45 min. Now, look at my first picture. Why does one look like a true flex pipe and the other one looks a boot. Is that or was that suppose to be a flex pipe also? I'm a little confused why it looks like a boot.

 

You need to replace both of the flex joints. The one looks different because all of the exterior wire is gone. There is an inner and outer sleeve to the flex joint.

 

I know it will be fine. Both sides of the one in my signature have replacement flex pipes welded in from a muffler shop. By the way, $85 is a very low price for that with part and labor...

 

$85 is really low for a flex pipe. I was quoted at about $150 for a new flex pipe when I had my custom exhaust done.

It's easy work for a shop, best to have them do it.