Front pipe with CAT - replace or repair (many pics)

An alternative for a complete downpipe/cat is Emico, which sells factory direct and used to be (and may still be) an OEM for VW. I believe they supplied the downpipe/cat for NA B4s.

mk3 said:

The front bracket is pretty rusty - I wonder how much longer it can last

Click to expand...

Following up on a rhetorical question I posed nearly 10 years ago.
... I guess the answer is around 10 years !


My exhaust system has been ok since I did this project in 2009 (it's now 2019) with two exceptions. The first is that the muffler hanger broke off and I had to rig up something to hold that. After fixing that I heard squeaking from the assembly and found that this front-most bracket has finally broken.

I shouldn't have been lazy all those years ago I guess and strengthened that front bracket. Now I need to decide whether to get a new downpipe or find some way to rig up a fix for that front bracket.

If your welding held up that long I would say keep it up.
Make a new bracket(s) as needed if the pipes are that solid.