UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi guys,

My exhaust flexi pipe is blowing badly and want to get it sorted cheaply for the time being. Currently it has a 200mm with welded ends, which if cut would leave me no space to clamp a replacement on.

Would there be any issues with me replacing it with a 150mm clamp on Flexi to allow me to leave on some straight pipe for me to clamp onto?

I don't know, but typically that front flexi is always welded probably due to its position and the temperatures its sees.

I had to replace that on my wife's 2002 VW Polo 1.4 16V 75PS, and ended up having to buy the exact correct item from Senioraftermarket and got an exhaust fabricator to weld it in place after they just fitted the easiest available repair section they could get their hands on - which caused resonances and the exhaust to touch the underside of the car during reversing up a steep driveway - a bit annoying as they were selling themselves as being experts, when in fact I needed to be become the expert part sourcer!!

Edit:- after that hic up on my wife's exhaust repair, I got someone to measure their original front flexi, so yes do that, measure the pipe diameter as near the start of the "tails" on the flexi, plus the actual length of the flexi section and maybe the overall outside diameter of the flexi section. The repair part also needs to be the highest quality and so heat resistant version due to its location in the exhaust, the supplied item will have generous "tails" which will just need cut to length when welding in place.

Things might have changed since I looked into this back in 2007 ie availability might have improved and/or complete section replacement price will have dropped - I was facing VW as being the only source for a complete front section and roughly £300 for the part and that was never going to work for me on a car that was only 5 years old - the original welding of that flexi section to the exhaust pipe at initial exhaust pipe build were to blame, the flexi part of that exhaust were still okay but that exhaust repairer would only offer to replace and not re-weld that area, access was exceedingly restricted as no doubt you have found when considering fitting clamps.

Thanks for the advice. Think I'll wait until I have to money to sort it properly. Don't wanna cause any more issues with a bodge.