Dodge Journey - Flex Pipe Replacement & Y-Pipe Repairs
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- In this video I fix up a young ladies 2010 Dodge Journey that is starting to get pretty loud. The bolts were all rotted off the front Y pipe and the flex pipe was also broken. Let's get this fixed before it goes full NASCAR on her.
-Enjoy!
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Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.
I had a good time watching a professional showing me how it is done. Thanks
For any of the viewers out there! Take a journey back in time and watch a video of SMA from 9 years ago! Watching how serious Eric O. was back then explaining how to work on a rusty Hyundai or Ford! When you see how SMA has developed his content from the beginning you will enjoy his current content even more! I watched several videos to get tips and clues how to do Hyundai suspension work and saved me a ton of money and time? As always a cup of Joe and SMA video to start the day! Thank you Eric!
My favorite, all-time, SMA, is the _first_ I every saw. A Chrysler that had no electricity. After replacing the battery, it still had no electricity. The DIYer had gone to Wilbert's U-Pull-It and gotten a "new" ECM. Nevermind that the plastic tabs on the "new" ECM did _not_ match the plastic slots of the ECM socket under the hood. The DIYer had strong arms and had gotten the "new" ECM into the socket by brute force. Of course not one of the 128 wires in the socket were plugged into the correct pins in the "new" ECM ! I laughed so hard I nearly fainted.
Don't you meant Dr.O. Why was that name ever dropped?
Seriously this. Especially his electrical troubleshooting - NEVER skip those
He's definitely developed his own video character!
I've personally have put off a task because I wanted to create a video of it. But realizing the amount of preparation and thinking about the video content, I just did it without recording it.
Yes, I have done this. I have to admit they were quite serious. 😂
I'm honestly impressed those crossover pipe flanges weren't leaking with no bolts left. The driver must take it pretty easy on it.
I've been watching the SMA channel for years now and as a Tech for over 35 years I have to admit that I have adjusted a few of my methods and techniques based on watching Mr. O...I've even purchased new tools that Eric endorses.
Same here.
He seems to have that affect on people.
I'm no day job mechanic, but I'll take on my own cars and a few trusted mates. When I start about a problem, I try to think how he does. Chasing an electrical fault on a friend's Sprinter, I bet myself at the start that it was a burnt frayed wire grounding out. I checked where the wiring started and followed it until I found where it touched the head. Someone had crossed it up and it burnt a few wires. Three splices later, I looked far better than I am.
I use the lights at school.
Good day Eric thanks for taking the time to film another video! Love the good old cut and burn videos just as much as case studies!
Mr O, you are an artiste with Old Vic there. You don't go full ham with the heat, and you nibbled away the metal to get where you needed to be. Awesome job as always. I'm sure the customer will appreciate the extra effort you went through to save her some money, yet still left her with a safe car. Nothing like idling at a light in the winter and feeling all groovy with the carbon monoxide kicking in.
Eric O is a master with the red wrench.
I been in the welding business for 30 years and Eric has better skills with a torch than some guys i know who been doing this for years! Great job Eric
welder and paint makes the torchman i aint!!!
I hear ya. I was waiting for the blow through that didn't happen. Came close.
He has been doing it for years & good at it too!!
He truely is a surgeon with the torch. Torching off rusty nuts without damaging the bold underneath will always boggle my mind.
I wish UA-cam had been around when MeeMaw ran the shop. Her channel would have been epic!
Who else clicks "like" before the video starts? 🤘
Everybody does.
Or halfway, thanks for reminding me
Same
They're ALWAYS good!
I wait for the "Welcome to the South Main Auto channel" - then that's my cue to click like 🙂
Nothing better than seeing Mr O & ole vic early in the morning plus the satiric commentary & the jig when a few sparks (hot metal) go down the back of the shirt just makes the day down under in OZ. Cheers.
Eric is finally wearing safety glasses. Awesome.
Sunday Morning with Old Vic, Mr. O and a cup of Joe!!!!
I don't get it: splines AND a hex head on the same end of that stud. It seems like a small flange is all that's needed to keep the stud from passing through. Putting a socket on it won't do anything.
I love how you have a blend of old school mechanic experience and modern diagnostic skills.
We appreciate you putting out these videos Eric.
Glad you like them!
Eric o always looking to trigger the internet "experts"....love it.
UA-cam masters lol
I'm glad you stuck your head in the way thus protecting us from flying sparks.
Carpenters have the air-nailers and pancake compressors we have the torches and welders! Awesome as usual Mr. O.
_"pancake compressor"_
I just call that a spatula.
LMAO
Eric O does a magnificent job _teaching_ how to diagnose a problem. His descriptions of his step-by-step process to track down the fault are amazing examples of instruction at its _best_ ! I love them, but not half as much as the nuts-and-bolts, "wrench and screwdriver" videos such as this one. I would love it if Eric O posted a head-gasket replacement, or any other major repair. I _know_ why he doesn't--filming _doubles_ the time the job takes. One of my recent favorites, was the replacement of the front structural frame of a Subaru. The heavy metal that holds the engine and the front wheel assemblies. Marvelous.
Sorry we kept being in the wrong place today , just wanted a good view of a true professional at work , thanks for the good work with vic and another great SMA video
All the best people love cats. Very beautiful. Very entertaining video 👍🏻
Glad I live in the southeast! My 20 yr old truck has the original exhaust. 😮
Out of all the automotive repairs channels I watch on UA-cam, yours is the only one I look forward to for new content. No matter what the vehicle type I always learn something. Keep em coming!!!!!
I learned to never buy a GM or Chrysler product. Lolol
I've done this a thousand times still enjoy watching someone else do it
😅 we all have them days, i was cracking up 😂 first the punch, next the magnet. Excellent job as always .👍
Would say this was a great video for anyone trying to replace the exhaust system on a vehicle as it shows the challenges created by living and driving the salt belt areas of the country. A 45° duck bill torch tip used for cutting rivet heads might be something to consider for your torch as it might let you get into tight areas better - sold one to a customer who did a lot of exhaust work about 30 years ago and he really liked it. When dealing with the inner pipe once the exhaust is sliced with the saws all I would suggest using the mig welder and tacking the inner and outer pipes together in a couple of spots on the nice clean cut edge on the side you are not going to use your air chisel cutter on. This should hold the inner pipe enough so it won't try and push in as you use the cutter on the opposite side - once the inner pipe is sliced it is easy to grind (or use "Vic") to remove the tack welds and pull the inner piece of pipe out. You could also drill a screw hole about 1/2" from the cut end through both pieces of pipe and put a sheet metal screw in temporarily to keep the inner pipe from sliding inwards while you use the air chisel and cutter. Just a couple of suggestions to consider - hope they help.
well thought out🤔🙂
I'm impressed that you still take on jobs like this. Exhaust work is a pain in the butt! 😅
Yeah but if you do it like Mr O instead of those "exhaust specialists" who weld everything it is easier those aholes with welders should have ole vic stuck up their exhaust pipes.
I'm guessing if Eric can describe this as a shit show, you can say ass! One of the more descriptive terms used on utube. Hopefully I won't be blocked for months😢😢
The " inside cutter " air tool you used , we called it the "can opener bit". This was for fire and rescue operations. When I first came in, the air chisel was a mainstay tool on extractions. Then everything went hydraulic or even newer, electric.
I love our battery powered extrication tools. No muss, no fuss and just as powerful as the old stuff.
Eric, back in the old days we would cut the inside pipe a little long so we could get a vice grip on it and then use the inside cutter to slice the pipe and give it a twist and it would come right out. Never needed a torch to get one apart
As always, I'm impressed by your ability to record this in such tight working conditions. I felt I could see this better than if I'd been right there. Well done Eric.
Hello Vic...my old friend....
You've come to help with rusted bolts again..... Feeling nostalgic this early on a Sunday. Good to see Vic out and about. He makes me appreciate living in FL. 😊
Eric O. is an absolute surgeon when using the "hot wrench". Thank you, Eric, for the information and entertainment you always provide.
Diablo blades for the win. Spent 40+ minutes trying to cut the rounded head of a bolt holding the rear lower shock using Irwin blades and barely got a fifth of the way. Bought a Diablo blade and 15 mins later, that bad boy was done. Good to see kitty stopping by to say hello 👍
A person kind to animals is a kind person. No place finer than SMA with all the "attachments"!
The best way that I have found to remove the inner pipe is to weld a 3/8ths bolt to the inner pipe with the threads facing out. Then I thread on my slide hammer and it pops it right out. If I'm in a position that I can't get a slide hammer in there I will cut through both pipes and remove the inner. After I'm done fitting my pipes I just weld up the outside pipe.
Hello Eric: As you mentioned many different methods for removing the inner sleve piece. One reasonably quick method if doing a lot of exhaust work. Take a pipe expander weld a slide hammer rod and weight on to the expander. Expand tool inside exhaust pipe until it catches inner pipe and a couple of whacks with the weight and the piece pops out. Not something for the occasional exhaust repair but we'll worth the simple fabrication for someone doing frequent exhaust work. Good job keep the videos coming.
My mans like a brain surgeon with ol vic. Such talent. Love you guys.
Panel cutting bit. I used them many years ago in the body shop. They were really popular in the early 80's when everyone was installing giant windows and skylights in vans.
What usually works for me with cutting the inside pipe is just using a sawzall. Sticking the blade in the pipe and holding it flat, once the blade cuts the slit, it will usually snag on the blade and yank it out
I don't think any of your videos are silly . I enjoy them all .
Thank' you Your honesty is refreshing. You didn't need to show dropping the small punch & magnet down the pipe. I have been attacked by the same Gremlin. GOOD JOB !!!
Eric, I never get over how great you are with that torch. You're like a surgeon. LOL
A great video showing why I hate doing exhaust work !!
I had to change the crossunder pipe on my 2010 Grand Caravan last year on my back in my shop. I enlisted the same tools you did except for the lift. That would have been much easier. Thanks for the education and a trip down that memory lane.
Keep up making your videos as I learn alot from you.
The truth when dealing with exhaust work. Many thanks for posting this SMA! DVD:)
That’s funny because yesterday I was doing the same thing and I had to get the same little flange off the exhaust. Instead of using a hammer, I used a pair of pliers. Great video!
Anytime you break out VIC it's a great video.
Always got to love those TA-DAH moments in life!
The MAN and his torch! Finite cutting and repairing.
Good one Mt. O!
As soon as I saw that exhaust pipe I knew we would be playing with fire.
I don’t know about tools and how they are built but I worked in steel industry and you are correct: If spring steel is heated rapidly or to a sufficiently high temperature (even if done slowly) it will become brittle and break instead of flexing and springing back to its previous shape.
Similarly, if you heat neodymium magnets (like on your LED lights), their magnetic strength is diminished and can become zero. Which may be why older LED lights that are occasionally hung off hot engine block weaken over repeated use.
Well done Eric! Been a welder in and out of the industry for years, great torch skills!
Another great Torch Tango on SMA...Happy Sunday morning y'all!
Eric, we love it when you break out the cutting torch and the welder!!!
Many times similar heating and pounding rotted bolt, would mushroom the top so much that the bolt would not fit through the hole.
Eric is amazing with the torches
Not a silly video. A testament to your skill and care.😊
Eric, Ivan. Two of the best
Great video Mr. O, you had me on the edge of my seat for the whole 44:17 of the video. Yours are never boring, especially with the commentary.
Very enjoyable watching you go at it with ole Victor Eric .
I was glad of the 55 years in my shop to have never caught the carpet on fire doing stuff like this Eric. My health made me retire.
Always fun watching Eric with a torch. 😅
Awesome as always, Eric!
Oh we all like ol vic to come out. Means that the job is going well.
Also I use a plasma cutter now and again when getting a torch in there is too tight. A small hypertherm powermax 30 allows me to get into a few smaller spots
You earned your pay on that one Eric. Well done Sir!
A Sunday morning breakfast with SMA and Vic is always a great morning. Thanks for the great video!
Don’t ya love them old rusted pipes. Speaking of solar eclipse, I remember as a kid in my pubescent years say around the 70’s My sister and I noticed it getting pretty dark during the day. I remember we both shrugged our shoulders and got back to work. Pretty cool when it’s happening. I like the exhaust repair. Looks very functional.
I admire your work, dealing with exhaust work is the worst anyway, but the rust makes it almost impossible. Was a great video.
That's a great tip Eric, thanks man not using wrench ratchets on hot places.👍
Another great video! These kinds of videos are excellent instructional blueprints for those of us who have never had to do these types of jobs before but may very well have to do them in the future! Stupid splines on exhaust bolts complicate everything! Thanks again, Eric!
I just watched Dr O hack and wack an exhaust system to save a customer some money!❤
*EXCELLENT!*
The best video youve uploaded so far. It even has a cat. But your frustration, dropping tools, dealing with close quarters was worth the laugh. As a retired mechanic I can sympathize with every bit of it. 😂👏👏👏🖖🏼
You are a guy with a really big heart... Helping out the young lady... Nicely done... =)
Great video! Showed all the problems working on the puzzle of a rusted exhaust in the rust belt.
I think all your videos are absolutely great
At the 15:02 mark....If you know, you know..
It takes years to master that level of patience!
Eric sure does know how to handle a torch! Glad the cat survived!
Some advice for DIYers dealing with a rotted exhaust stud - The Clamp-A-Stud. It's an elongated C clamp with convex and concave fittings for replacing bad studs on exhaust systems. It costs about $30. Once upon a time I had an F150 where the exhaust suddenly got louder. Inspection revealed that one of the manifold studs had rotted away. It would have been nearly impossible for me to replace it properly with the tools I had, so based on a friend's recommendation I tried the Clamp-A-Stud. Went on easy and worked great. The exhaust was still tight when I sold the truck years later. I'm sure that professionals would never consider such a shortcut, especially ones like Eric O who rightly believe that getting things back as close to OE as possible is the best way to go, but I think it might be just the ticket for people who want to keep their vehicle healthy at as low a cost as possible. Also FWIW when I install an exhaust clamp I prefer to install it sideways where possible to minimize the chance of it catching and snagging on something.
lol, I have seen c-clamps holding exhaust flanges together, either tack welded in place or hose clamped to hold them on. 🤣
then again, this is Ohio, where NY ships all the inspection failing cars t be sold to us suckers. 😒
Vise grips to hold inside pipe clamped to outside. Then use the inside cutter. Worked for me...I can't torch.
Say hi to Mrs. O. for us!!😁
And on today's episode of the SMA, Eric the apprentice shows us the struggle is real!
It seems like the alloy metals are far worse for corrosion and probably a lot more toxic to work on.
At least the pipes were in better shape than expected.🤙
Great Video... always love it when you break out the torch and air hammer..!!!!
Stick some American bolts in there 👍 That statement just reminded me.
I have thousands and thousands and thousands of bolts one side course thread 1/4" to 1/2"
Other bin1/4 to 1/2" fine. And bottom row up to 1". Sad they are all going to scrap.
I guess what I'm saying no (h!na steel. There will be bolts I bet brand new from the 60's70's that I haven't used.
Great quality work as always at SMA!
Sunday morning....coffee....SMO.....doesn't get better.
Plasma cutter will work on that inner alloy pipe. Although you did what you had to get the job done! Thanks for sharing your videos.
OMG , I won’t be able to sleep tonight thinking about that muffler clamp!! 😂
Ive used a bearing slide hammer puller to pull those inside pipes out once they start slidding in worked perfect . Ingenuity 😊
Exactly what I was thinking!!!
My wife has a 2007 Dodge Magnum with the big 3.5 V6. We've had both flex pipes rot out. My mechanic fixed them both just like you did. Torch, cut & weld.
Rock on Eric! I just love watching you burn with Victor!
The 'magic wand', Vic, and Eric; for the win.............nice.
Ain't gonna lie Eric...was good to see Luna in the shop. Was kinda getting worried about her after not having seen her in quite a while 🙂
Man, the clearance was nill and you got it done. Wow.
I love Eric O exhaust repair vids.❤
Good man. Saving customers money and doing a good repair.
Ya got a little beat up by the smoke wrench today but thanks for bringing us along
Enjoy your videos Eric learn a lot from them thank you
Excellent job Mr O!
Another awesome video by the Master! Like the little accent on her rearview mirror.
JEEESH Eric!! That’s one way to extend the length of your video by pulling rookie ideas😂😂 I absolutely hated doing exhaust work!! Glad to see the ol’ fire wrench again-been awhile!!
Good video Peter, great outcome 👍
Hey thank you for not having adds also if you one day do I understand but lt nice to just watch a video without the sales pitch
Shhh You tube might be listening. 😂
Eric O. master of fire. I like this !