Replacing my exhaust system

[eremoy]

I have a 94' 4runner V6 that I bought recently. It has a few exhaust leaks that bug the crap out of me because it makes my car sound bad so i want to get this fixed. I don't know too much about cars because this is my first one but how would I go about replacing the whole thing from where its attatched to the block all the way up untill the muffler?

also whats a good system to get?

thanks

 

[wolfgang]

Sounding bad isn't the dangerous part - it can leak carbon monoxide inside the cabin and asphixiate (i.e. kill) you! This is more likely to happend in winter when windows are sealed tight and you idle engine more to keep warm. Most folks replace from the catalytic converter back --- leaving the stock header pipes and Cat. (Cat is quite costly - as it contains trace amount of platinum). Its maybe a 1 hour job for a replacement system.

What are you looking for in new system (better performance? low noise? and how much do you want to spend? (near $1k will get you a performance 1M mile warranty stainless steel Borla system). Additionally if you go with dealer OEM one - it comes with a lifetime warranty --- but is costly compared to say a Flowmaster aftermarket system.

 

[khooper]

Clamps are common practice when replacing exhaust parts providing you have the proper fit. Welding is preferred by some but if you need to ever replace something it has to be cut off. try tightening the clamp again, if that doesn't work and you can get the pipes to come apart you can put a sealer on the joints. I don't recommend using the tape it is only for temporary fixes. A leak in the exhaust should not cause you to loose any performance .
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[eremoy]

yea thats the other thing, when I have all the windows down it smells like exhaust in the cabin due to it beign sucked in. The leak is right infront of the drivers side wheel well on the front. yea I might just wait on it then because I only have about 400-500$ towards it and I have other priorities needed to be done first like a valve adjustment and a check engine light that just turned on yesterday.

would it be better to weld or use a sealer of some sort like that one guy said?

 

[wolfgang]

You can do a cat-back for $500 - especially if you install it yourself. Can't weld rust so if yours has rust holes its thin all over and needs to be replaced. Sealer to fix rust holes is very temporary. It can be used on joints when installing new with success but won't do much to fix rust holes. Can't say I've heard of many doing a valve adjustment on the V6 - unless they redo head and cams. Valve adjustment takes special tool and varied thickness shims.

 

[eremoy]

You can do a cat-back for $500 - especially if you install it yourself. Can't weld rust so if yours has rust holes its thin all over and needs to be replaced. Sealer to fix rust holes is very temporary. It can be used on joints when installing new with success but won't do much to fix rust holes. Can't say I've heard of many doing a valve adjustment on the V6 - unless they redo head and cams. Valve adjustment takes special tool and varied thickness shims.

oh yea i cant do a valve job myself, i'm going to have the dealer take care of that.

 

[K_Labs]

Well if you didn't go out and buy anything yet you can buy mine and save alot of cash! I have a full exhaust for $500. Sound is awesome and it even comes with an o2 sensor. Downey offroad longtube headers, magnaflo high flow cat back, and flowmaster muffler. Just bought the cat, muffler, and o2 sensor 6 months ago.