Hey so like the title suggest im having major exhaust problems. About 8 months ago one of my exhaust pipes severed and i was able to get a patch on it to hold it together. And that patch has been holding strong, but the other day the other front pipe severed and this time it was right at the flex pipe. And unlike the other pipe this location is nearly impossible to patch without insane amounts of leakage. So not that both of my front pipes have split (and i mean severed not just a crack) im looking to replace both sections of pipe. Both i believe are before the cats (and i can post pictures if that helps, but i don't have a good camera). So my question is where is a good place to find a set of half way decent front pipes? they don't have to be racing grade or anything. I was thinking of going to a junk yard to pull them off a scrap car. would anyone recommend this idea or are old rusty exhaust parts a bad idea. And i was looking on ebay and couldn't find any for my model. So if anyone has any ideas where a set can be found for a good price i would much appreciate it.

And my car is a 99 a4 2.8LQM (pre-facelift)

 

just adding an update. I took some pictures to help better explain the problem. The photos were taken from the passenger side just to give you the right perspective. After doing some research i believe that the passenger side front pipe is okay. The spot that i patched with the clamp appears to be the end of the front pipe anyway (can anyone confirm this). Then the crappy looking patch is on the drivers side front pipe. I believe this pipe will have to be completely replaced. and looking on ebay i have found that pipe for under 200. I feel cheap buying car parts on ebay but the price is right. will this be better money spent then pulling the pipe from a scrap yard?

Thanks for your input

 

i would look at one of these. that is going to b my choice when mine goes. 2.8L 00

OBX Catback Exhaust 97 01 Audi A4 B5 Quattro 2 8L 30V | eBay

 

Flex joints are the weak point of the system. Unfortunately, the down pipe, flex joint and cat are all one piece on these cars. When one of my flex joints began leaking, I could tell (visually) that the other wasn't far behind. I took it to a local exhaust shop that cut out and welded in new stainless flex joints for $200.

 

This exhuast actually sounds good. Gets a little pingy once broken in. But it's a great product for the price...
That patch is really ugly but serves the purpose. Time t replace down pipes or go to Midas or what have you and have them fixed.
Last thing you want is those claps to fail and exhuast to "pole vault" under your car

 

Blazing to raise a good point about the catapult. The first time the exhaust broke it actually came pretty close to the ground and i never even thought about catching it on something. And ya that new ugly patch was mostly due to that i was out of town at my girlfriends and she doesn't even own a hammer, so i just tried to fix it as cheap as possible to get me home and having to purchase duplicate tools. But seeing how much it was for you bshusted to get the flex joints replaced i this i just order this down pipe off ebay.
1996 1997 1998 1999 Audi A4 2 8L Driver Side Catalytic Converter Stainless | eBay
Even if it isn't the best quality at least ill have the reassurance that it isn't a rusty pipe that looks like it will burst tomorrow. And jag i have been looking at that exhaust kit for awhile now thinking that i was gonna need a new exhaust soon by the way that its been sounding lately. But come to find out that my problems in my exhaust are unrelated to that section of pipe ill just have to wait on that purchase. and thanks blazing i was gonna ask how that exhaust sounding and if it was alright. But at this point in time i think ill just replace my drivers side front pipe because i need to pass inspection and i cant with that patch on there, and maybe once summer comes ill replace the other front pipe and the exhaust just so pipes stop falling apart on me.

 

Obx soundd test for you...

.......
Also the pole vaulting thing. I Speak from experience it sucks I had an exhuast fail on a Vw wound up punching through the floor into the trunk.
On a side note a magna flow muffler will work as a jack stand!

 

$200 ouch local shop outside chi town did both mine for $70.

 

thanks for the video of the exhaust, i will really be considering that upgrade for the summer. But i was able to remove the old down pipe section and get the new one but i broke an oxygen sensor getting it out of the pipe. So my question is what is a good cheap oxygen? Its the downstream ( after cat) on the left, i found ones on rockauto for $32 for a ultrapower brand. Is that alright or should i spend the money to get a bosch or equivalent. Thanks for the opinions

 

i have that obx kit. i like it. solid sound. its not the parts that makes the driver...........obx is a mid grade co. nothing wrong with them.....