tanabe "custom" exhaust

[auker1]

so when i bought my car, it came with a tanabe exhaust. Which at first was fine. It developed an exhaust leak at the down pipe to o2 housing. So I pulled the down pipe and looked at it. It looks like someone made their own down pipe and welded a flange to the end. When they welded the flange on, it was not welded flush. So i ground it down to flush and reinstalled it. Also when i pulled the entire exhaust system, the down pipe was like a slide-in fitment and not a flange like all there downpipes. The flex pipe is is after the down pipe and is connected to the down pipe by a clamp. So I am wondering if I would get an new down pipe to solve the exhaust leak, what would I have to do to get a new down pipe to bolt up? Sorry I can't upload pics because this forum does not support the format my pics are in.

 

[boost97gst]

Well i would think if the down pipe doesnt have a flex section thats going to put a ton of stress on both ends. O2 side and the other end. The flex pipe needs to be in the DP unless you have solid alum mounts on the front and rear roll stops.
I would look for another DP or buy a section of 3" flex and have a muffler shop weld it in. They can also cut and put flanges on the end too, to get rid of that slip fitting.

 

[auker1]

well the fles pipe is connected directly to the downpipe so I don't know what kind of exhaust is on my car. I think its just a cat-back tanabe with a homemade downpipe slip-fit to a flexpipe. i can't figure out what i am doing wrong to upload pics. it says invalid file. I know this is wrong thread but any suggestions?

 

[m1nd64m3]

Upload your pic to imgur and post it here with the IMG tags

 

[auker1]

it still says invalid file. i don't understand

 

[Lazyboy]

Do yourself a favor. Toss that ghetto fab down pipe in the trash and go order yourself a nice new stainless shiny 3 inch one.

 

[Wooley91TSI]

+1 on getting a new downpipe. Have a similar situation on my car with an aftermarket section of flex and test pipe attached to as stock exhaust. Ill be spending all winter acquiring a new exhaust from the turbo back.

 

[boost97gst]

well the fles pipe is connected directly to the downpipe so I don't know what kind of exhaust is on my car. I think its just a cat-back tanabe with a homemade downpipe slip-fit to a flexpipe. i can't figure out what i am doing wrong to upload pics. it says invalid file. I know this is wrong thread but any suggestions?

Ok, sounds like you just need a DP and call it a day. No big deal. If the cat back isnt mangled or shortened then worst case you have to weld a flange on. Its not expensive for a shop to do that either.

The site has a pretty low threshold for image size. I opened a photo bucket account the last time i had some pics. I guess guys are shooting super low res shots to upload them. IDK, not that savvy

 

[auker1]

hey thanks for the replies guys. I am on pretty tight budget with college coming up. I think ill jut let it the way it is for now.

 

[crimsondragon]

Fix the leaks though. If it requires any welding, Meineke will do it for cheap.

 

[auker1]

Ok so I know its been a while. Here is a pic of my DP for you guys. i pulled it in the garage the other day and ordered an exhaust gasket. When i pulled the nut and bolt off i realized that they were both half stripped. Every time that I took my DP off before the bolt and nut were loose. I put new fasteners in tonight and will see what happens. I finally figured out how to upload pics so here is one from a while ago.

 

[kenamond]

The flex section plus all the rubber exhaust hangers give your exhaust system flexibility so that when your engine shifts on the mounts under load changes, you don't bust exhaust mount points. It also gives you some flexibility in incorrect flange angles and such. If you can't torque your DP to spec onto the O2 housing without stripping threads, I recommend a new O2 housing, preferably ported to match the DP inner diameter, but maybe you just blew out your O2/DP gasket? There is a gasket, right?

Also, is the O2/DP leak causing any problems (frying wiring, etc.)? If not, a post-turbo leak is only an emissions issue which, depending on your green-ness, may or may not be an issue for you. Turbos don't want *any* backpressure post-turbine. A leak decreases that pressure which is good, performance-wise. But you don't want to fry shit under the hood, and you want to pass inspection (if required in your location). I have a (small) O2/DP leak, too, but I don't have emissions testing where I live and it isn't frying my wiring, so I'm okay with it.