Any reason to stay away from Midas/Minakee/Speedy mufflers
Russ Mestechkin
Time has come to replace the muffler on my '93 Integra GS.
My rule of thumb in choosing the repair shop so far was:
use the dealer for non - disposable parts, such as engine tune up,
ABS flush e.t.c. and use Acura parts so that my Acura would not turn
into a GM, Delco, or what not.
On the other hand, with disposable parts - brake pads, filters and
so on, I'v been using generic parts gas station mechanics, or did the
work myself.
The question is, in what category does muffler replacement belong?
Is there any reason why I should not trust this to Midas or one of those
guys, or should I stick with the Dealer ( i.e. extra $100) on this one?
What do you think?
--
RUSS
michael scott saxon
[SNIP]
>
> The question is, in what category does muffler replacement belong?
> Is there any reason why I should not trust this to Midas or one of those
> guys, or should I stick with the Dealer ( i.e. extra $100) on this one?
I couldn't stomach the $200 the dealer wanted for the exhaust/tailpipe
assembly, so I went to a local reputable independent muffler shop (not
midas or meineke). The whole job, including axle crossover pipe, cost me
$125, and they even saved those nifty looking chrome exhaust tips. They
also tilted the end of the tailpipe down slightly, to prevent water from
collecting in the tailpipe (which created the demise of my OEM pipe - I do
a lot of short trips).
I have had no drivability problems using a non-stock muffler, and the
noise level did not change.
Cheers,
Michael Saxon
University of Illinois
msa...@montana.cba.uiuc.edu
1992 Acura Integra GS (Fun)
1997 Toyota Corolla (Yawn)
Craig Keener
Russ Mestechkin wrote:
>
> Time has come to replace the muffler on my '93 Integra GS.
> My rule of thumb in choosing the repair shop so far was:
> use the dealer for non - disposable parts, such as engine tune up,
> ABS flush e.t.c. and use Acura parts so that my Acura would not turn
> into a GM, Delco, or what not.
>
> On the other hand, with disposable parts - brake pads, filters and
> so on, I'v been using generic parts gas station mechanics, or did the
> work myself.
>
> Is there any reason why I should not trust this to Midas or one of
> those guys, or should I stick with the Dealer ( i.e. extra $100) on
> this one?
>
I'd spend the extra bill and have it done at the
dealership....unless you'd rather do it yourself. You may even get a
lifetime warranty from the dealer. Lifetime muffler guarantees are now
being offered by a number of automakers, although I can't recall if
Honda is among them.
Whatever you do, stay away from Midas. Midas is to brakes,
suspensions, and exhausts what quick-lubes are to oil. I could tell
stories that'd send shivers down your spine.
Also, the house-labeled parts Midas uses are the lowest quality
around, with even their "lifetime" parts often having a far shorter
lifespan than OEM or quality aftermarket parts. Don't be fooled by that
"free" replacement guarantee either. Ask a few people who've gone that
route just how free it is.
Later,
- Craig
Jeffrey Potoff
Craig Keener wrote:
>
> Also, the house-labeled parts Midas uses are the lowest quality
> around, with even their "lifetime" parts often having a far shorter
> lifespan than OEM or quality aftermarket parts. Don't be fooled by that
> "free" replacement guarantee either. Ask a few people who've gone that
> route just how free it is.
Since you brought it up, it is indeed free. I got my muffler replaced
there 2-3 years ago, I've been through about one a year. Each time
I go in they fix it for no charge and I'm on my way. How much less
can it cost than nothing ?
Jeff
Robert K. Henry
Once upon a time, the exhaust system might be considered a disposable,
routine-replacement item on cars that didn't have things like catalytic
converters or turbochargers. I don't think that's quite true anymore. The
exhaust system does more than just snag rocks on rough roads. It needs to
be done right.
I've had very bad luck with Midas. Can't say about the other muffler
places. It could be just the franchisee, in which case you might be just as
well off to take it to your favorite repair place. If you can't rely on
national advertising to assure reliability then any place with a good
mechanic will do.
The Midas shop I visited, many years ago, didn't stock pipes. They bent
them up on site with a tube bender. That might have worked fine except that
they didn't get the pipes shaped right. In one case the bending process had
partly collapsed the tube and greatly restricted the opening. The tube bend
passage is always smaller than the bends in the original pipe, which are
usually just about the same diameter as the straight sections. Also, that
car (a Corvair) had a turbocharger, a tricky installation anyway. The plate
that seals the pipes going into and out of the engine compartment to the
turbo presented too much a challenge to them so they cut it off with a
torch! (Fortunately when I restored the car some time later I was able to
get a repro of this no-longer-in-production part.) When I came out to
retrieve the car they asked for some help in trying to figure out where all
the extra screws went. The were trying to force a sheet-metal screw into
one of the tapped holes in the turbo housing (Thank goodness for
Heli-coil). The shocks they installed didn't quite fit the lower control
arms, the sleeve was a smidge too short. They left off the washers and
lock-washers and just tightened the nut as much as possible. This slightly
collapsed the lower control arm (making it necessary later to heave the
metal back out when I put in a properly-sized shock) but the sleeve ends
still weren't tight against the control arm. The shock fitted loosely,
hitting on either side of the through-bolt as the suspension jounced. This
left a fraction of an inch of un-controlled suspension movement.
On another car they fabricated the exhaust pipe but they didn't put enough
bends in it. Instead of two bends to crank the pipe through a couple of
notches in some floor members, they just made one bend, a kind of dog-leg.
This left the pipe quite close to parts of the floor that were never meant
to be that close and the floor would get quite hot.
No, I'm not at all happy with Midas's work. The mufflers don't seem to give
very good service life either.
Now when I need exhaust work done I buy the parts from a parts house and
put them on myself. It always fits and works perfectly (clean bends, angles
right, etc.). The biggest problem is that exhaust parts always rust
together and don't come apart as easily as they went together. Any good
repair shop ought to be able to do this job well.
--
Bob Henry
Russ Mestechkin <russ.me...@analog.com> wrote in article
<334016...@analog.com>...
> Time has come to replace the muffler on my '93 Integra GS.
> My rule of thumb in choosing the repair shop so far was:
> use the dealer for non - disposable parts, such as engine tune up,
> ABS flush e.t.c. and use Acura parts so that my Acura would not turn
> into a GM, Delco, or what not.
>
> On the other hand, with disposable parts - brake pads, filters and
> so on, I'v been using generic parts gas station mechanics, or did the
> work myself.
>
> The question is, in what category does muffler replacement belong?
> Is there any reason why I should not trust this to Midas or one of those
> guys, or should I stick with the Dealer ( i.e. extra $100) on this one?
>
> What do you think?
>
> --
> RUSS
>
xf...@aol.com
Russ Mestechkin <c> wrote:
>Time has come to replace the muffler on my '93 Integra GS.
>My rule of thumb in choosing the repair shop so far was:
>use the dealer for non - disposable parts, such as engine tune up,
>ABS flush e.t.c. and use Acura parts so that my Acura would not turn
>into a GM, Delco, or what not.
>On the other hand, with disposable parts - brake pads, filters and
>so on, I'v been using generic parts gas station mechanics, or did the
>work myself.
>The question is, in what category does muffler replacement belong?
>Is there any reason why I should not trust this to Midas or one of those
>guys, or should I stick with the Dealer ( i.e. extra $100) on this one?
You would be wise to ask arround for a good independent Muffler Shop.
Ask other Quality repair shops who they would have do their muffler
work.
Good Luck
Gary
eturm...@gpo.gov
In article <334016...@analog.com>,
Russ Mestechkin <russ.me...@analog.com> wrote:
<snip>
I'm having a bitch of time posting this, e-mail if you
want more info. I'd avoid Midas. Typically you get hit
with a major expense for warranty replacement. A dealer
will probably install the same parts as an independant.
There are 3 big OEM suppliers, Arvin, Maremont and Walker
and the same 3 are the main aftermarket suppliers. I'd
stay away from anyone who welds the system together(individual
replacement is a problem) and I'd avoid the muffler and
adapter arrangements.
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Craig Keener
Can't argue with your success, but other customers should be so
lucky. Either you have a very good, talented franchisee, the pipes for
the system are pre-welded to the muffler(s), or both. Your experiences
are definitly an exception to the golden Midas rule.
- Craig
Jeffrey Potoff
Actually, it's been at a number of different Midas shops, depending
on where in the country I am at the time. I haven't had any
problems. I tend to hang around the shop while they work, though.
Jeff