I failed my annual state inspection. Yeah, not too happy about it.

Part of the fail was the exhaust (again). Last year it was the "y" just after the forward cats. Now it's the "y" after the middle pipe, and the right muffler. I see all kinds of left mufflers online, but no rights. So, I'll ask, where do I get modestly priced exhaust parts for a car that might see 3-4k miles a year, and is generally garage kept?

Secondly, please tell me the mufflers bolt up? I don't mind welding the tips on, but I really don't want to be welding up under the car.

Oh, and the rear brake pads and rotors are to be changed. That shouldn't be too much of a job, right? I guess while I'm already dirty after all that, I'll argue with that one bad O2 sensor.

Then I get to buy a pair of tires. I just wish I had the time and money to do it all at one time...LOL

 

i cant tell you about the muffler, but i can tell you the brakes replacement is easy. good luck!

 

Since one of the mufflers is bad, and I need to pull the y pipe before the second cats to weld a crack in the y pipe...

What if I removed the secondary cats, then...





Then put new pipe where the old mufflers were... Any thoughts?

 

or, just this...

 

Rear brakes were straightforward but may surprise you at first glance. They have drums for the park-brake - shouldn't need shoes unless you make a habit of handbrake turns, just be aware if you are changing rotors as well as pads, that there is also a set of drum brakes back there. My caliper fixing bolts were lock-wired, another unexpected twist, as it were.

Don't know if it'll be any use, but my brake pics begin on page 6 of this album:

VDP Mechanicals Photos by holbrz1 | Photobucket

 

i removed the second cats and replaced with normal same diameter pipes, been wanting to remove the front downpipe cats but dont know if that would cause problems with the fuel trim. also i read in another post that if all cats are removed you can also remove the electric air pump!. that would be nice IMO removing the pump and all its things making the engine bay cleaner. and one less electrical component to worry about. thats just me. i hope someone with knowledge on the topic can give some good info.

 

I'll need at least one set of cats for the visual inspection. I don't drive it enough for the tail pipe inspection, under 5k miles a year.

I knew there were mini drum brakes for the parking brakes. Thanks for the link, I'll take a look later!