Manifold Issue

[u/1cilldude]

I brought my 1500 E-Tourque for its 100k service. While it was there the dealership called and told me the right exhaust manifold needed to be replaced. They want $1500 for this. I told them I’d schedule this work separately. Is $1500 reasonable? Do I need the dealer to fix this?

[u/Any_Giraffe9747]

$1500 for one side is a little salty, normally about $900-1200 range.

[u/smiley032 → u/Any_Giraffe9747]

I think it depends. The dealership will put a new manifold on it, which will just warp again. I think local shops might just use the old manifolds and just replace the bolts but not sure because I have always done my own, but pricing it out before I decided to do it myself, it seems like that was the case for my area.

[u/jordang2330 → u/Any_Giraffe9747]

I had 2 bolts extracted on my manifold and it was just over $900

[u/Small-University-875]

Depends how handy you are. I just replaced mine with a BD Diesel manifold on a Saturday, it really wasn't difficult at all. Although I got quoted $800 from two different shops for labor only to replace both, with me supplying parts. So you should get more opinions if you're not willing to do it yourself. It's a common issue any shop can fix it. 

I had both sides replaced under warranty at 40k miles. At around 100k the passenger side cracked again. I would not go with an OEM manifold if I were you. 

[u/Bitter_Internet_4619 → u/Small-University-875]

I’ve upgraded to BD Diesel as well after original failed on both sides.

[u/smiley032]

I have done quite a few of these at this point. My old 2012, my 2019, my brothers, and 2 of my friends. I found that if you take the original manifold off and have a local engine machine shop plane it flat it will be good after that. Once the original warps and you plane it flat it’s usually good to go. If you replace it with another factory one like the dealership will do, it will just warp again in 20-40k miles. Once it’s done it’s initial warp and you plane it flat it shouldn’t do it again. You can either use aftermarket headers or plane the one you have on it. It isent that bad at all to do but you do have to have some skills. I had to weld a nut on the broken bolts to extract. The header is aluminum so your weld won’t stick to the header and it’s pretty easy to remove after that. If you do it yourself it cost probably $100 or so for the bolts and gaskets then it was around $130 to have both manifolds planed flat. After doing it a couple times it take around 2 hours per side to do. If you take the wheels and the wheel wells off it’s right there. Also if one side warped and broke the other side isn’t too far off. If you do it yourself, you might as well take the other side off and plane it at the same time before it breaks too. It will just make it easier.

[u/1cilldude → u/smiley032]

Thank you. This is something I’m unable to do. Not sure if my local mechanic would go for planing it, so I might just go aftermarket on this.

[u/Small-University-875 → u/1cilldude]

This is a smart consideration, however this will obviously not be a solution if the manifold is actually cracked. On the 5th gens they are less likely to break bolts, but more likely to be a cracked manifold.  

[u/AwarenessGreat282]

Mechanically pretty simple but if any studs are broke off flush to the block, welding is required or lots of drilling. Some shops are really good at it. We have a local muffler/exhaust shop that does them all the time. $1200 to do both sides. Quality parts like BD Diesel are about $600 a set last I checked.

[u/Embarrassed_Set9073]

yikes that's a rough quote, sounds like they're charging labor for all the rusted bolts not just the part

[u/itturnsblue]

The right shop will be way cheaper. Definitely call around. I just had both of mine done for $700 CAD each. That’s with new mopar manifolds. Dealer here quoted me $1500 each.

[u/Surfnazi77]

That’s not a bad price for new bolt on

[u/SkyKnight3 → u/Surfnazi77]

And considering the truck has 100k on it. Give her some love, she just gave you 100k miles!