Big exhaust replacement estimate... worth the cost?

Hey everybody,

Looking for some helpful thoughts on what to do... I have a 2005 Tundra that has been great for utility purposes and the occasional highway trip when necessary. Just over 100k miles. The exhaust has become really loud and my mechanic said the parts to replace it (basically the whole system needs to be done) would be $5k. The truck is probably worth about $7k-$9k I would guess. The rack & pinion needs replacement soon also, for another $2k, but not super-urgent.

Let's say that I don't want to go spend $8k to keep this truck going until the next repair. Are there better options? Do I sell it? I am probably still going to need a truck for doing things around my property.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

Sell.

Or, just keep it on your property and wear ear muffs.

DIY is another option, but the Exhaust Manifolds on the Engine is a Brutal 2-3 day job with about $1k in parts. The mid and rear sections of the Exhaust are easy and parts might run another $1k (excluding Cats). Cats cost $400-3k depending if aftermarket or OEM.

 

What does this 5k estimate get you? Do you have exhaust leaks and/or are your cats bad? If its just loud, go to a muffler shop and have them replace it.

 

The mechanic said it would need both cats and the rest. He could not find any aftermarket parts and called the Toyota dealer for prices.

 

Thats a good price *if* it includes the manifolds on both sides of engine.

 

Op, hit up http://dirtydeedsindustries.com/product/2000-2006-toyota-tundra-bolt-on-kit/

 

Lots of variables to the equation. If the truck is a 2005 double cab with 100,000 miles, its worth more money every day. Is is rust free and in overall good condition to merit the investment? If the truck is a 2wd, the header fitment should be less of a pain than on the 4wd. To me, it seems like the perfect time to go with the long tube headers and custom pipes back from there. In the event that my exhaust goes bad, that's what I intend to do. Dirtydeeds is advertising +40hp for the VVT engines and that's hard to turn down.

 

not questioning if you need cats but are throwing any codes, check engine light ? Are you in position you can throw some pictures up of the underneath, especially exhaust ?

 

maybe the mechanic just wants to "recycle" the cats..

 

Am I missing something? 5K quote for exhaust??
I spent about 600 bucks on my entire exhaust system using new headers and an aftermarket exhaust system. Yes, I did the install myself, and not everyone is in a position to do that.
So, go shopping online (That Dirty Deeds kit is nice) then find a local shop who will install a system you bring them, and save yourself a couple thousand dollars.
A rebuilt rack is about 300 dollars. I would do the same thing with that.

Oh, and welcome to the club!

 

Seems to be a thing with 1st Gens

 

2k for the steering rack is way to much. It is an easy DIY if you are somewhat mechanical. I put this one on my truck from Detroit Axle and sent my original back in the same box with a prepaid label from DA to activate the lifetime warranty. If not, buy this one and have it installed. Shouldn't be more than $500.

https://www.detroitaxle.com/shop/st...ndra/?vyr=2005&vmk=Toyota&vmd=Tundra&vsmd=SR5

 

Its weird how I just replaced my Headers (Ceramic Titanium JBA $620) with new Toyota bolts/studs ($110) Percy gaskets ($80) and added up the total parts cost $810. I’d figure a shop around here would charge $1500 minimum Labor so theres a total of $2300.

Parts Programme Prices: Add in Toyota Cats ($2800) for both sides and the freaking rear muffler ($550)

OP quoted price is reasonable for Toy parts.

DDeeds top notch Long Tubes installed will be $4-5k minimum. He has the ‘budget ones’ for less, but those will probably rust through unless living in Coolifornia.

I must be missing something unless we are bidding cheap exhaust that will last 2 seasons?

 

Do not use a Reman Steering Rack. Buy a new one and it will last another 20 years. This one is a little less for a 2002. Yours might cost more.

 

Regardless of what the equipment being used is, $5K is too much to spend on a truck this old for exhaust. Factory cats and muffler would not cost an independent shop $5K to install. All of my factory piping is still good. My Flowmaster is still good. My aftermarket aluminized pipe (2 short sections behind the mufflers that dump over the axle) was the first to develop holes. AFTER 16 YEARS. You can surely piece together a new exhaust system that will last greater than 10 years for $2k or less.

 

I question the need for CATs since that’s 4 out of the $5k right there. Performance exhaust shops around here will sell you Magnaflow CATs for $400 each and maybe $1k for the CAT back system in stainless steel. Get a 2nd opinion and shop around. Also, tell them if they can’t weld to the CATs, you’re going elsewhere because that’s BS.

 

"still going to need a truck for doing things around my property."

This makes me believe the truck does not have to be road worthy, heck probably not even licensed or insured. If all that is true, I would just drive it until it won't drive anymore, then sell it for whatever you can get for it when that time comes.

But if it has to be road worthy, personally I just could not dump that much money into that old of a vehicle, pretty much knowing the next major repair is around the corner. I would just stop the bleeding and move on to a newer/new vehicle.

 

Smells like post #2.

 

Open headers are nice too.