Hi, My 79 needs new exhaust from the cat back. The current exhaust was fitted in 2005 from the engine all the way back, including a new catalytic converter. The car was doing too much sitting prior to my recent every day driving so the resonator and muffler are rotting at some of the seams. Anyway, is a discount place like Midas a good choice? Meineke? A local mechanic? I want the car to be QUIET and kept stock if possible. Any ideas are appreciated! :-) Dave

i got my exhaust done at the discount places and so far so good.

Exhaust is as easy to do as it is hard to screw up. Those discount repair chains pretty much all started out as Muffler/Brake shops andwill do a good job. The chain shops usually already have the pre-bent exhaust pipes in stock, a local garage will have to order it.

I've heard good and bad things about both Meineke and Midas. My local Meineke overcharges for brake repairs, and Midas sells customers on things they don't need. I wouldn't let either one of them touch the engine (not even for an oil change), but they do good exhaust work.

Thanks for the input! I'll get some estimates and see what happens! :)

How long do you think you are keeping the car? 5 years or less get a parts store pre bent system and put it on... but if your keeping it forever have stainless pipes bent... it will cost twice as much for the pipes but will last 10 times as long..stainless mufflers cost a bunch or keep changing the cheap ones...

There's nothing wrong with going to midas for exhaust work. They usually give you lifetime warranty for the muffler too. Or just goto any garage and get them to do the work. They'll charge more but the parts might last longer.

I went to a place called rainbow muffler. they did an excellent job and with a fair price.

I replaced the exhause from just behind the catalytic (it was still fine) a couple of months ago at a local shop. The reason I took it in wasn't because it was noisy, but rather I had taken the car down a really rough road and one of the hangars let go and the exhaust was sagging.

Turns out there was a quarter-sized hole in the muffler, and one of the pipes had a crack, so I changed it out.

I'm in Canada, so I don't know if you have Zorro muffler down in the States, but it was very reasonable...I think it was $249, and everything was done in an hour. One thing of interest, my car had the resonator at the end. The guy told me not to bother replacing it because a) it would cost an extra $300, and b) it wouldn't make a difference in noise level.

I ended up not replacing it, and the car is very quiet, yet still has a bit of a rumble. I'm not sure what the purpose of that resonator was in the first place....just a grumbler?

Interesting - when I purchased this car 4 years ago the exhaust was not stock and there was no cat and no resonator. Even though the system was fine I completely re-did it with a new cat and all new pipes plus resonator. I'm not crazy about muffler/exhaust sounds and noises since I like my Cad to be whisper quiet so I will report back on what I learn on the resonator as I shop around. If I get a lifetime warranty from a cheap place like Midas I think I'll go that route since they're betting I won't have the car and I'm hoping I will... :)

You know, my car is much quieter without the resonator. Like you, I prefer my Cadillac to be whisper quiet.

Great minds think alike!

Interesting - when I purchased this car 4 years ago the exhaust was not stock and there was no cat and no resonator. Even though the system was fine I completely re-did it with a new cat and all new pipes plus resonator. I'm not crazy about muffler/exhaust sounds and noises since I like my Cad to be whisper quiet so I will report back on what I learn on the resonator as I shop around. If I get a lifetime warranty from a cheap place like Midas I think I'll go that route since they're betting I won't have the car and I'm hoping I will... :)

Lifetime warranty sounds like a good deal to me.

I did my exhaust from the engine back myself. Bought the parts from www.rockauto.com and it was actually very cheap and not too bad of a job to do either. (The cat was the most expensive part by far). This might also be a route you could try if you're looking to save some money.

You know, my car is much quieter without the resonator. Like you, I prefer my Cadillac to be whisper quiet.

Great minds think alike!

It's the only way to travel!!!

Lifetime warranty sounds like a good deal to me.

I did my exhaust from the engine back myself. Bought the parts from www.rockauto.com (http://www.rockauto.com) and it was actually very cheap and not too bad of a job to do either. (The cat was the most expensive part by far). This might also be a route you could try if you're looking to save some money.

I've used rockauto and they are impressive. I will likely not use them for the exhaust since I'm not in a position to do the job myself. All other projects - - I'm a rockauto believer! Thanks everyone on the forum who recommends rockauto - - a great resource for great service, excellent prices, and superb quality! :) :) :)

Did mine from the cat back last November. It is stainless pipe bent from straight stock with a Magnaflow stainless muffler. I got it done at a local custom exhaust shop here in Toronto called Noyzboyz. It cost CDN$ 339 including them brazing some pinhole perforations in the under sump cross-pipe.

Nice and quiet too. I was impressed with the service. Took them about an hour.

Martin.

When you buy those Lifetime warranty , thats on the muffler not on the pipes...so when you go back for a new muffler they will say you need new pipes and you will pay for them... even if the pipes are like new they will take a Giant channel plyers and crush the pipe and say "see its no good" and if you go to Midas they make there stuff just a little different size so no other brand can be used with there stuff..And those big chains will find things wrong with your car you never knew you had... you need shocks , springs brakes and a long list of things... and all you wanted was a muffler...

When you buy those Lifetime warranty , thats on the muffler not on the pipes...so when you go back for a new muffler they will say you need new pipes and you will pay for them... even if the pipes are like new they will take a Giant channel plyers and crush the pipe and say "see its no good" and if you go to Midas they make there stuff just a little different size so no other brand can be used with there stuff..And those big chains will find things wrong with your car you never knew you had... you need shocks , springs brakes and a long list of things... and all you wanted was a muffler...

I used to work for Monro Muffler, and when I inspected the cars and couldn't find anything wrong, the Bossman would tell to make something wrong. That why I don't work for Monro Muffler no more

When you buy those Lifetime warranty , thats on the muffler not on the pipes...so when you go back for a new muffler they will say you need new pipes and you will pay for them... even if the pipes are like new they will take a Giant channel plyers and crush the pipe and say "see its no good" and if you go to Midas they make there stuff just a little different size so no other brand can be used with there stuff..And those big chains will find things wrong with your car you never knew you had... you need shocks , springs brakes and a long list of things... and all you wanted was a muffler...
We never had those problems. Guess it depends on what kind of ripoff artist runs the one you goto.

how far should you be able to go on a set of originally installed exhaust systems, my fleetwood has a 144,000 on it, its a 94 & my buick roadmaster has 250,000 on it & its a 94 as well. have done the o2 sensors & pipes & mufflers are still sound originals, how much longer can i expect them to last.Would replace the stainless, without question & avoid muffler shops, I'll get the pre bent kits & do the install in my farm shop.