On an '04 ES 330. The car has a bad flex joint, which technically is one with the cat and associated piping. Has anyone bought just the flex joint? Rest of the exhaust is "like new" (Florida car).
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/N70AAOSwiDFYP5Hp/s-l1600.jpg

 

Common repair since the replacement is $1500. The piece needs to be welded in not simply clamped.

 

Why must it be welded? I'm asking because I don't have a welder, but on the other hand, it wouldn't kill me to have it welded by someone else if needed.

 

Clamp it on and let us know how it holds up. Since it constantly flexes there doesn't seem like it would work for long.

 

Update on this. Had an shop weld a new flex joint and the car is amazingly silent. OK, obviously, but it was just barely leaking.

But the news gets better! Like a miracle, both P0420 and PO430 are gone and here all along I thought both cats were bad, but that tiny exhaust leak was messing with the secondary 02 sensors.

 

Glad it worked out for you! It’s a routine repair for exhaust shops to perform.

 

We had the exhaust noise show up around 100K on my ES330 and my mechanic said the flex joint failed. I was told all the cat converter and exhaust must be disassembled to repair the flex joint and pretty $$$. I found a welder who simply cut out and replaced the new joint up on a lift while I waited. Sooo thankful ended up costing around $100 total.