Prevents cracking – By absorbing vibration, expansion, and contraction forces, the flex pipe protects rigid steel exhaust tubing from cracking and splitting. Reduces noise – The chambers and ribs inside a flex pipe help dissipate noise and reduce the harshness of exhaust tones.

A flex pipe is an excellent way to reduce the vibration in your exhaust system and protect it from cracking up. Manufacturers design the pipe so that it is flexible but not too flexible. This way, the pipe's movement can counter the vibration while keeping connected exhaust pipes stable.

Also known as the exhaust flex pipe, the flex pipe is a type of tubing that connects the engine and exhaust system. Some of the common symptoms of a bad flex pipe are exhaust leaks, loud noises from your engine, and hissing noises when you step on the gas pedal.

But the engine’s vibrations as well as movement from the road can cause damage to rigid parts, which is why you’ll find a flex pipe installed in the exhaust pipe. When it’s worn out or broken, the flex pipe needs to be replaced. Find out what is a flex pipe, how it can fail, and how to repair or replace it when it goes bad.