OBW: center pipe with 3 cat?

[Dutchboy]

I found out this weekend that the exhaust on my 98 OBW (2.5 DOHC) is leaking right behind the resonator. When I look at the schematic from Subaru, this piece of pipe with a resonator is labeled #12 in the schematic as rear exhaust pipe, but called centerpipe by most I have talked to sofar. According to the schematic it should bolt right behind the cat and so replacing it should be easy.

 

When I look under my car, it seems that there is a 3rd cat with a (2nd) oxygen sensor in it. And worse yet, it seems that this cat is welded to a short piece of pipe that is welded to the resonator. Immediately in front of the 3rd cat are the "spring-loaded" bolts with a flange that connect to the flange behind the second cat. This whole setup looks identical to that described in a previous post:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=16317&highlight=cat%2A

Can anybody explain to me why this is, and how I get this fixed without spending hundreds of $$ on a piece of pipe with a 3rd cat in it (how many of these do you need?). As far as I can tell the whole thing is original and it is NOT a CA car but a regular mid-west model. The existence of the 3rd cat was confirmed by the Midas guy I asked about it.

exhaust.pdf

[MorganM]

To get it fixed with out spending hundreds of dolllars you need to take it to an exhuast shop and just have them weld the holes shut. You wont need a whole new pipe or resinator. I'm sure the leaks are minor and can be welded shut. This will be WAY WAY cheaper than replacing pipes and resinators and cat converters.