[springoflife]

A little background:
I had a Gen 1 Sienna, and the exhaust became swiss cheese at the 13-year mark. I bought the OEM pipe from the cat-back (it was all-one-piece, the resonator, the muffler, the tailpipe). It cost about $1,300 in parts, it was an easy job, and it lasted 5 years until I sold the van.

I now have a Gen 2, and you-guessed-it, it's 13 years old and needs an exhaust. But it would cost about $2,200 in parts (shipped) so I'm thinking of going aftermarket. They sell it in separate pieces (Y-pipe, resonator, muffler, tailpipe) now. However, once again, I need to make the van last another 5 years before I can afford another vehicle

If anyone has done this, how long will an aftermarket (aluminized steel) setup last? 2 years? 5 years?

Is there a certain brand that is better than the others? I don't mind paying a little more if it would last 5 years, or if the installation would be easier.

What are the nuisances of an aftermarket setup that wouldn't exist with OEM? In other words, what "oops" moments will there be? Will the flanges mate? Pipes formed with the exact curves? Threaded flanges versus thru-hole? Etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

[springoflife]

Aftermarket options seem somewhat limited to Napa's house brand, Walker, Ansa, and BRExhaust. All are aluminized steel. Any thoughts?

 

[ericreyn]

Are you certain you need the whole system ? I live in a rust belt state and mine is not bad by any stretch. It did get loud 2 to 3 years ago and it was just a 20 dollar gasket that went out. It was an easy fix.

 

[sixto]

Do you travel south to where you can get a factory cat back set from a wrecking yard? Will a southern yard on car-part.com deliver a factory cat-back for reasonable cost?

Will an aftermarket setup last longer if you paint it?

Sixto
‘04 LE FWD 206K miles

 

[BillG]

I've had my eye on a stainless cat-back exhaust sold on Amazon from UPSW/Northeastern Exhaust Amazon.com It's $577 for a complete system. That said, my ENTIRE exhaust is shot. I've had patches patched and flanges coupled and I'm about out of options for repair. That said, I'm apprehensive because I don't have the tools to tweak it, if it isn't perfect. That said, the price is right!

UPDATE: I should specify that there IS a difference between FWD and AWD and '04-06 vs '07-10.

 

[supra129]

Mine has lasted 16 years in the rust belt and the only issue has been replacing the donut gasket that caused a rattle. I remember seeing the muffler is made by Walker when I was fixing the heat shield above it. I'm wondering if there is a difference in quality from Walker and Toyota made by Walker(if it's still the OEM). I like sixto's idea of buying from a southern junk yard.

 

[Therbi]

When we had our 06 I had to replace the braided section of front pipe that runs under the engine. I went to my local exhaust shop and had them do it. I swear they were no more than 10 minutes and it was like $180. I;m cheap as hell and always DIY when I can but this was money well spent to me.
Point is take a drive to your local exhaust shop and get a quote. Most places will put in on the hoist and give you a full quote for free, might only take 10 minutes of your time.

And no matter what you get, make sure its stainless, never get aluminized, its a waste of money. Just look for 409 stainless, thats the grade of OEM. 304 stainless is more money but in no way lasts any longer than 409, it just higher concentrations of chromium and nickel so it doesnt show surface rust as much. Thats fine if you have a truck running big duals out the side that you want to look nice, but purely cosmetic.

 

[Acepedro45]

I almost wonder if OEM is the way to go here (and I am Mr. Cheapskate). Knock wood, I have the original exhaust system on an ‘05 Corolla and my ‘06 Sienna here in the salty Northeast. On another car I put in an aftermarket Walker muffler and wasn’t happy after it failed a couple years later.