flex pipe problems

my accents flex pipe has a massive leak in it. and i am going to propose a couple of ways to fix it and i was hoping somebody could tell me what would work the best.
1. weld around the rim of the flex pipe to seal the leak.
2. cut the weave part out and put a solid piece of pipe in its place, then use flex bolts to bolt it into the header and the rest of the exhaust.
3. the most simple but also most expensive way, pay the $85 and get a new flex pipe. did i miss any options?

also i was wondering if anybody had any good suggestions on how to get the O2 sensor off really easy. i am planning on using PB blaster, but is there anything better out there?

any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks
Mario

Hi Mario:

I'm not a tech but I just had my flex pipe replaced. Hyundai wants $150 for the part and another $150 to put it in. I had my mechanic swap out the flex portion of the pipe and replace with some flex pipe and bridge the gap with new pipe. The whole tailpipe assembly with the flex pipe is how Hyundai sells it. The one thing I can tell you without a doubt is do not replace with non-flexible pipe. The engine moves and that is why it needs flexible piping. I think a couple of ring clamps (the thing with the screw and threads that makes the circle tighten like on your radiator hose) and a piece of flex pipe should solve your problem. You also may want to clean all the connections on the O2 sensors. I replaced O2 sensors and MAF only to discover that it was the flex that was setting off the CEL. Didn't make sense to me since it was the sensor before the flex pipe and not the one after but that fixed the problem. All the best.

Freddy:smokin:

I can get a new flex pipe off ebay for like $80, and then the labor would be free. I might just say screw it, and weld around the flex to make it solid. If the engine torques too much the welds would break before the exhaust, plus that would hold me over until I have money for a new flex pipe. If I weld it, I would get the flex bolts to connect to the header and the rest of the exhaust, which would reduce the chances of it breaking.

<3 Mario

If you can give me more vehicle info, such as vin, I can see what I can get you the pipe for.

i dont know the vin off the top of my head and right now i am in school. but i would need a flex pipe for a (1995 Hyundai Accent 1.5L G4EK, SOHC) just get back to me if you an manage anything.

Thanks
-Mario

Well, I can't do $85, because thats a whole lot less than my cost. Here's what I can do though.


Pipe - part # 28600-22000 List $190.12 Sell $140.00
Frt gasket - part # 28751-22000 List $6.18 Sell $4.50
Rear gasket - part # 28764-22020 List $8.15 Sell $6.00

I should still be able to barely cover shipping at those prices. I don't have it in stock, so it would take me a couple days to get. Let me know if I can help.

If you really want to save money and do it right,just go to autozone or Ebay and buy universal flex.They sell them with different lenght for 8-12$ and weld both ends steel to steel,as I did that on mine and is like new ,can not tell difference from originall.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3-x-6-Exhaust-Flex-Pipe-100-Stainless-Steel-Universal_W0QQitemZ8065118121QQcategoryZ33630QQssP ageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting