TRD Exhaust question

dirkler · 08-17-2008, 01:25 PM

I stupidly backed into a handrail last night.
The only damage to my FJ was on the exhaust.
I went to my local shop and they looked at it and thought it could be put back into shape with a little heat. He recommended me not doing this though because of the way the exhaust lays it might cause bumping against the frame. So we found a new solution of ordering the end pipe of the TRD exhaust and he could put that on. Total cost: $350 with labor.

But I decided to go to the dealer service to see what they would do.
They said the whole exhaust had to be replaced (this conclusion came after and hour and a half of me waiting)
Total cost: $775 with labor.

I'm thinking I'll probably go with the local guy. He's not too familiar with the FJ (especially the TRD upgrades) but is in love with the car and did his research to find the correct part and show me under the car exactly what he would do. I feel comfortable with it.

Anyone have any thoughts on which is the better approach?

**amaintaylor** · 08-17-2008, 01:38 PM

Go with the exhaust shop. You don't need to give the stealership any more coin.....

**MudLovingFJ** · 08-17-2008, 01:56 PM

Or you can get an All-Pro high clearance exhaust pipe for $150 and probably $50 install. Plus, it will be out of the way and something like that wont happen again. BTW, I have the A-P pipe and I really like it.

**Mtbcoach** · 08-17-2008, 03:10 PM

Me thinks both quotes are VERY high. The TRD exhaust is nothing but an expensive add on. Unless you totally crushed your existing one, have someone do what they can to salvage it with some new exhaust tubing, if you just have to have the TRD exhaust.

Or, do as others suggested, go with a high clearance, something I'm sure a local shop can fab up for half of what you were quoted...

dirkler · 08-17-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Mtbcoach previously said:

Me thinks both quotes are VERY high. The TRD exhaust is nothing but an expensive add on. Unless you totally crushed your existing one, have someone do what they can to salvage it with some new exhaust tubing, if you just have to have the TRD exhaust.

I agree that this seems like a very expensive fix for a stupid mistake.

I dig bang it in pretty bad and the local guy did first suggest just getting it back into shape. He said he would definitely do this if it was an old beater or something, but on a car less than a year old he didn't feel comfortable. The crushed bit is where the exhaust pipe runs over a piece of the frame. I appreciate his concern for my car and we called the parts shop to find that the rear exhaust pipe for the TRD runs around $250. Expensive yes, but for a car that is 1 of 3000 made I'd like to keep it in as good of shape as possible.
Dinner with girl: $100
Stupid mistake while being distracted in the rain: $350
Ugh. Expensive evening.

dirkler · 08-20-2008, 04:26 PM

Just wanted to post a follow up to this.
I went with the local guy and he did a 'great' job.
After looking at what he did I could have ordered the part myself and attached the two bolts to the rest of the exhaust. Luckily his labor was only $70 so whatever.
Anyways, it gets me mad that the dealer came to the conclusion that I needed to replace to WHOLE $500 TRD performance exhaust when clearly I didn't.
Also their labor charge? yeah..$275.

So all in all I'm happy that my exhaust is back to brand new.
Just gotta pay more attention now...