So is it worth it to throw in an entire exhaust system from rock auto into my jeep from the header back? or should i just take it into an exhaust shop? My cat has been acting up lately and i think it is clogging up slowly as i recently just came home and its slightly glowing faintly. it drives fine but i can definitely feel a loss of power from a week ago.

 

Most exhaust shops can do it for cheaper.

 

Don't count on getting the right parts from Rockauto, and expect to pay restocking and shipping when you have to send it back. If you call them to make sure it's right before you order, and they assure you it's right, you can expect some insults thrown in for free when you call to tell them it's not right.

 

I've had good experience with Rock Auto. I've purchased the pre-cats, front pipe, muffler and tail pipe for my 2001 Sport. I did not purchase the parts at the same time as the replacement of the muffler and tail pipe preceded the replacement of the pre-cats by about a year. I went with the Walker muffler and tail pipe and Eastern Catalytic for the pre-cats and front pipe. Bolts and clip nuts came from the dealership.
I don't know what the cost would be compared to an exhaust shop. I do remember a whole lot of cursing going on when I was trying to remove the old exhaust. Most of the frustration came from removing the bolts connecting the pre-cats to the exhaust manifold. Some of that due to my lack of experience and proper tools.

Regards,
Matt

 

How long have you been working for the local parts store?

 

I remember in my younger days we used to buy NAPA Soundmaster pipes and mufflers because they were pretty reasonable and readily available. Except for sometimes "tuning" a tailpipe because it banged on the body, the parts fit right. My buddy had a tree in his back yard that had grown up with 2 trunks and we'd fine tune the pipes by bending them in the crotch of the tree. Those were the days.....

 

I have had to return a couple mispackaged bushings to Rockauto once. It went smoothly, but the return process felt more like an interrogation with all the questions. At the time, they did not reimburse shipping charges, and no prepaid shipping label was sent, nor offered. My #1 dislike with Rockauto is that they have a nasty habit of breaking up your order to squeeze a little more out of you. Order 2 parts and the order may say "warehouse A" for both, but add a 3rd part and two of them become "warehouse B". Remove one of them and they both say "Warehouse A" again. Check this before placing an order as the difference in shipping can be quite significant with large parts. I have shopped elsewhere because of it. Shop around and compare.

Regardless of which vendor you choose, use these clamps when possible. No welding needed.

 

Seeing how simple an '99 exhaust is I would do it myself. With Walker parts.

Thinking with a stock '99 exhaust it is pretty cut and dry. Guessing you would use Walker parts. Do your research and you should be good. Just don't assume RockAuto is cheaper. They are in many instances. Even with the shipping charges when ordering a ton stuff.
But was just helping somebody with the exhaust on a '00. Little more complicated cause of the CA Emissions, dual cat, flanges, etc. Anyway was looking at his parts list and noticed the Walker tailpipe was the same price on Amazon, shipped free, as it was on RockAuto. Which would have shipping charges. In his case though that dual mini cat was much cheaper at RockAuto.

I agree with the muffler clamp that fb97xj1 showed. I used that type for where my muffler connects to my tailpipe in my '00. I purchased the Quiet Flow from Walker. Warrantied for life. Tailpipe is not. So my hope that cause I did not use a traditional muffler clamp if and when I have to warranty the muffler, and assuming my tailpipe is still good, I might have a better chance separating them without ruining the tailpipe. I don't really believe that it will play out that way but one can always hope. LOL.

 

Have you ever had a problem with RockAuto?

 

Given rock auto is a parts broker (buys out old/dying warehouses/aftermarket brokers), there is always a 50/50 chance you'll receive something mispacked/misidentified. If you're going stock exhaust, am-autoparts is pretty good on stock equipment and the shipping (ground usually 4 days from west to east coast) isn't terrible since it's free over $50. But you may also have better luck at your local auto/exhaust shop if you don't mind getting most of the system welded instead of bracketed.

 

Only once. A Powerstop brake caliper was defective, but that wasn't their fault. It leaked the moment it was pressurized. They sent me another one Next Day Air with a return shipping label, no questions asked. You get better response asking for store credit than cash.

My store history.

 

RockAuto.com Discount Code for Parts & More - Expires August 13, 2019

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f10/ro...1/#post3555596

 

I was asking the mouthy kid.

 

D'oh! Sorry to jump on you. I didn't catch that.

 

+1 on this. I ordered new drums for my Jeep and they sent the wrong size. I had to pay shipping to return them, and then I had to pay shipping for the correct drums! Ridiculous if you ask me cause shipping on heavy parts ain't cheap. Gets my blood boiling whenever I think about it. Argh.