I am looking for one form or another of a 4" flex joint to weld into my exhaust just below where my down pipe bolts up. My exhaust is a 4" stainless duramax, and the shop that fabbed it up didn't have any 4" dyes to bend the tubing with, so they had to cut and weld everything up with the bends that I had. Everything fits pretty well, but they definitely had to wrench down somewhat to pull the flanges together where the downpipe ends. It bothers me knowing that my downpipe is bound to some degree, and I am worried it is putting stress on the v-band where it mates to the turbo. I ordered an 8" long flex joint online, but the bastard is so stiff it is literally worthless. I can't flex it at all. It is absolutely nothing like the one in my crossover which is very nimble. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a joint they have used, or what I could weld in that would allow the exhaust to sit how it wants and take all potential stress off both ends of the downpipe?

 

Summit sells flex joints.

You are doing the right thing taking the time to fix that, you dont want that piping in a bind, im sure it puts unnecessary pressure on your exhaust manifold bolts.

 

summit -ebay- jegs - racepartsolutions

 

I realize I can get one from any one of those companies lol, I want to know if any of you have purchased one from any of them and can confirm that its not basically what I already have. Ive spent $50 on one that im gonna have to try and send back and im not willing to spend the cash again just in hopes that its better than what I already have. Has anybody used the flexable piping that you see on some semi's where the exhaust wraps around the saddle tanks? I used something similar on my brothers truck that was only 3" from the parts store, just to make due until he could get the final exhaust connection done and it had all the flexability I need and more.

 

Go to Napa and get a foot of 4" flex pipe (it's i.d.) and a couple SS band clamps. That's what I did and it worked great! and cheep too. That's what semi trucks use and it stands up well. If you look around, you can even find that flex pipe in 304 SS too, just more money.