What is flex pipe

What is flex pipe

What Is This Accordian Looking thing On My Exhaust? A Flex Pipe!

A flex pipe is flexible piece of pipe that allows the exhaust system some flexibility. Flex pipes are an essential part of any front wheel drive vehicle and on most all wheel drive vehicles. On front wheel cars, since the motor is mounted transversely, when you accelerate the motor rocks and the flex pipe protects your exhaust system from breakage. Without that extra flex the rocking motion would crack the exhaust system causing a loud leak.

It is sometimes very easy to notice a flex pipe that is starting to break down.During the beginning stages you may just hear a slight exhaust leak during your vehicle's start up and it will go away for the most part due to it not having a major leak, but when it finally does let go you will know it! Most flex pipes will break from the inside accordion piece and it will sound as though you have no exhaust whatsoever. Other forms of a flex pipe leaking can be caused by your car bottoming out and tearing the outer protective mesh and scraping a hole into the flex tube or it could just be from deterioration. Here is an example of what a damaged flex pipe and a new one look like:

Occasionally customers will ask do i really need this piece and the answer is YES you do! Not having a flex pipe installed can cause serious damage to your exhaust system such as breaking bolts, flanges, and even the exhaust manifold itself. A typical flex pipe install can take us less than a half hour of your time so we can get you back on the road doing what you need to do!