Exhaust repair

Weld a plate onto it.

Probably better to fit something around the pipe, rather than weaken it further by removing a section - put it this way, I would think about fixing a hole in an exhaust, but wouldn't bother with a pipe that had broken in two. I'm sure you can buy repair kits for this sort of thing - never tried myself as whenever I've had a hole, the rest of the section has looked pretty ropey so the repair would only delay the replacement by a few months at most.

Halfords do metal backed sticky tape and a host of other bits inc. some sort of jublie clip affair. Jon

You can buy pipe, yes - any steel stockholder will have it in a range of different diameters, but they'll generally only sell you a full length [which is usually about 4 or 5 metres!].

Welding's probably not an option 'cause once you get in there you'll generally find the metal round the hole is wafer-thin and you just blow holes in it rather than weld!

That's what gas welding is for.

Do a search for "Metal Supermarkets", branches all over the UK and they'll sell you as little as you need.

It may *look* to be in 'tip-top' condition, but they rust from the inside out due to the corrosive nature of exhaust gasses. So if it's failed in one place, others won't be far behind.

Personally my first choice would be a mig welder (a type of arc welder).

-- James

Even MIG won't help you get a clean weld on a partially-rusted exhaust. You'll probably find that when you take a sanding-disc to the pipe [essential to get it clean before starting the welding, right?] it'll go straight through!

Remember that exhausts generally rust from the inside-out.

It *is* in very good condition apart from around the joint. I assume it's because mud etc tends to stick round there, hence the reason for wanting a repair serction.

sPoNiX

Let it rust out, it sounds hilarious. I once had a pipe break after the cat but before the silencer, must have been rusty but not blowing, went from silent to sounding like a Caterham without the popping pretty much instantly. Sounded insane at anything above 1500rpm or so until I got a new exhaust. All the Nova boys will think you're a legend :P.

I have a roll of this aluminium tape, quite wide and with a very adhesive backing. I don't know where it is sold but it's good for binding round this kind of damage. A few layers of it will seal the hole and not come off by itself.

Alternatively, a baked bean can (cut accordingly) over the hole, some exhaust paste or putty, big jubilee clips or metal ties to hold it in place will seal a small hole pretty well.

In article , S P O N I X writes

If the hole is on the underside (the road facing side) it could be because of moisture collecting due to short runs, this would cause it to rust from the inside out as others have pointed out.

Have you looked / inside / when you say it is in good condition, if you have not than you can't say it is, you might not like the idea that exhausts rot from the inside out but they do.

I had the studs let go last week in front of the cat. It was suffeciently noisy for the 1800 yards it took me to make it the layby that the nice policeman came & gave me lot's of helpfull bits of paper.

I was rather worried about the same thing happening to me so I only got to drive it home :).