I've had enough, I can't stand having the car die on me anymore! A couple of weeks back I created my own lane of traffic on the highway(ic pipe blew off while in a construction zone)

I don't understand why they're blowing off... and i'm only boosting 10lb!
Like they won't blow off, i'll beat on the car for weeks and weeks and then one day POOF!

I'm using silicone couplers with t-bolt clamps, I've tried using the hairspray trick, didn't work.
Tried sanding the ends so they're not as slippery, nothing.

I've went to like 4 exhaust shops, 2 of which didn't even know what a bead weld was until I explained it to them, and they all said that they can't do it on aluminum because it won't "stick"

I really don't know what to do from here, I'm afraid to boost the car now.... I don't want to get the pipes permanently welded because I customize things too much.
Anyone have any ideas?

I have used the RRE epoxy trick and had good luck.

http://www.roadraceengineering.com/eclipsetech/icpipebead.htm

Seth

Can you find a shop to tack a rod around the lip? You could also JB weld a piece of metal coat hanger on about a 1/4 inch in on the pipe. Favor the epoxy to the end of the pipe side, and put the T-clamp after the "lip" you don't want it working it's way through the coupling. I hope you are using reinforced couplings, if not they tend to go boom.

Use a torch to heat up the IC pipe ends where it connects to the coupler to the polish off and get new clamps and don't leave the FMIC hanging to the pipes as the only support.

Here's a variation that I've used many times. I've never had one slip.

wret said:

Here's a variation that I've used many times. I've never had one slip.

Click to expand...

This should be in the TECH section.

Hey let me give you a little tip, since you mentioned a "hair spray" trick.... I am going to go off on a tangent for a moment so that you will know that I know what I'm talking about.

I used to ride bmx, for the longest time, my friends and I would use hairspray to "stick" our grips to our handlebars.... this method worked, but you had to let it dry. What I'm going to say will probably be a little hard to believe, but try using wd40. Once I found out about that I NEVER used hairspray on my grips again. The wd40 dries WAY faster, and it does something that just makes the rubber stick (I'm sure it has something to do with breaking the rubber down a little)....

Anyway, you might try it with a spare coupler, and I'm not responsible if you ruin anything, but I am fairly certain that it will get the trick done.

That's odd. I use WD-40 on the plug boots to keep them from sticking to the porcelain. Hm. Maybe it works on the grips because it lets them slide all the way on so that they're not trying to push themselves back off or something.

WD 40 breaks down rubber. I can see it working on bike grips. We used to mount shifter kart tires with wd40 to keep them from spinning on the rim. they would have to dry over night then the beads would be kinda sticky. It worked great until we started running really soft tires then only beadlocks helped.

I just use hairspray and pliers/vice grips to kind of 'flare' the edges a little bit.

Just go to an exhaust shop. I did that, drove the car down, pulled off the IC piping that would pop off at 18psi, got it flared, put it back on and it was holding 25psi no problem.

have any exhaust shop flare the ends. Don't bother with the bead if you can't get it.

ship em to me and ill roll a bead on the ends of them

I was in the same spot you were when I was fabbing up my front mount set-up. What I did was use a bead roller for sheet metal. I think you can get it from harbor freight or a truck load tool sale for under $100, I don't remember the exact price because it was my fathers. I was using aluminum 2.5" piping and it came out perfect. The only thing that is a pain is keeping the pipe straight while u roll it. If anyone else needs more info just let me know.

why not go to AMS or something and have them roll them for you? Have a real bead rolled in. most shops should have the means to do it properly without costing too much.

I've run 25 psi without beads on my piping, just T-bolt clamps. Never had one pop off.

you're lucky bro.

how in the world do you guys have piping without beads rolled in them? Who in the world sells something like that?

prostreetdsmx1 said:

you're lucky bro.

how in the world do you guys have piping without beads rolled in them? Who in the world sells something like that?

Click to expand...

MY piping didnt have beads because I fabbed up my own setup. I used a combo of my old piping from my old setup and some other piping I had laying around and cut to fit.

AMS would charge me an arm and a leg, I do like the little tutorial you drew wret, I may look into that if my local DSM buddies don't pull through with their welding skills.

Just go to an exhaust shop and have the ends flared. It shouldn't cost you anything. I run 25 psi on my pipes and i've never had one pop off.

dumb question, but where can i get a tool to bead 2.5 intercooler pipes? I keep blowing off the pipes on the ones that arent beaded. or is there another way to bead the pipes? any suggestions or sites, throw it my way, i need all the input i can get!

muffler shop.

well, you could get a beading tool, or you could just have a bead welded / epoxied on. My hard pipes have an epoxy bead on them, and on the previous car they were on, they held 22 psi just fine without blowing off.

The JB weld method. I forget where I found this picture, but another tuners member made this.