So a woman decided to be on her cell phone instead of apply her brakes when approaching the stoplight I was at, and $8600 later, my rear ended car is fixed. EXCEPT.. I realized that the exhaust system was bent because the tailpipe does not clear the bumper anymore. So insurance is cool with replacing the bent piping. They want to take it to a muffler shop and have the piping duplicated.

Here's the question: I payed out the ass for my lovely Corsa touring exhaust, so I want to make sure that whatever replacement I get will not hurt performance or drastically change the growl that the exhaust gives me. But the resonator and muffler are in tact apparently, and it's just the connecting pipes that need to be replaced. So is the random Meineke **** they are going to put on in place of my Corsa piping going to be any worse? Like are my Corsa pipes polished or engineered in a way that's better than the replacement random piping from the corner shop?

I know this might be too vague since we don't know anything specific about what the replacement pipes are going to be used, but thought it might be a general enough topic since I imagine when we pay top dollar for exhausts, its about the resonators and mufflers, not the connecting pipes.

Thanks for any replies and advice!

 

That's BS. They should be putting an all new catback on your car if that's how it comes. Not jimmying parts togeather. I wouldn't settle for anything less then a brand new system.

 

I completely agree.

 

But if they wont give you a new system, you have to go to a place that does mandrel bending. Minkee does crush bends and those suck, compression bends arent terrible but still arent as good as mandrel.

 

I would fight to get a new catback, they are supposed to restore the car to how it was before the damage. If you get someone legit to do the exhaust work I bet you'll be fine but I'd still want a new system because it will never be the same again.

 

replace.... do not hack...

 

Thanks for the advice guys, I agree that i'd prefer a new system all together, but I need to come to them with specific reasons why I won't accept just new piping. What are some specific reasons I should list? It sounds like the technique for bending the pipes is important to do properly so I guess I can mention that. Any other specific reasons I can list to justify a new system all together?

 

Weld on stainless pipes require pulling the entire piping down and back flowing with argon to prevent sugaring and weakening of the inside of the weld.