AdriaN-

Well most of you might remember me as the guy who posted up not too long ago regarding the cracked test pipes, but in reality it was the y-pipe on my nismo exhaust that had cracked on the welds... the test pipe had cracked as well ... lol

Well after getting it re-welded and driving fine for about 4 days, the damn exhaust starting rattling like crazy. At first I thought it was the exhaust just shaking and hitting the frame of the car, I thought the guy had maybe forgot to put the hanger on correctly. So today I went to inspect what was finally going on... only to find yet another huge crack on the welds, this time just after my Y-Pipe. wtf im pissed off. Never knew the test pipes would cause this much vibration to the point where im gonna have to reweld every 5,000 miles. wow...

Heres a pic where it cracked this time around.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

How many miles are on the exhaust?
Maybe its time for a different cat-back.

ISMSOLUTIONS

Which testpipes do you have?

SOLO-350Z

iTrader: (26)

Do the test pipes have the flex joint? If not then that is the reason why the exhaust is cracking. Too much stress when the engine rotates.

SuperBlack350z

iTrader: (59)

maybe you need to take off the test pipes. My helix version 2 has brackets where it won't vibrate.

plumpzz

iTrader: (10)

I ran an exhaust w/o any flex points for several months. Never cracked. Face it, one of the components of your exhaust isnt made to spec. Ive heard of nismo exhausts cracking test pipes more than once. Just because it's nismo doesn't mean its got perfect fit/finish. Time for a new exhaust.

ISMSOLUTIONS

That's really not true - in many cases. The problem is that there is a bind on the system - thereby putting stress on the welded joints. The torquing of the engine will further allow cracking to happen and those stressed areas are further stressed.

The issue is the bind on the system. Whether it's the testpipes or the catback, is the question and answer.

When we developed the Fast Intentions system, and tested many others out there - we discovered how far off the others were from the original angles of the original CATS and exhaust.

I'm not at all trying to sell you on a Fast Intentions system - BUT, there are some parts out there not quite built to an almost perfect OEM spec.

If the testpipes are perfect - then likely the the catback is tweaked causing the bind.

Now - some testpipes have brackets on them, as the original CATS do. This is REALLY not at all needed. Testpipes weight less than 1/2 of the CATS - and the CATS are really heavy - which is why they have an additional bracket to hold them stiff. Most aftermarket testpipes and HFC's that have brackets will almost always result in broken brackets as well.

Rick

Cux350z

iTrader: (162)

what brand of tp has a flex joint? Stock doesnt, only the y pipe.

The nismo exhaust is known to not work with crawford hfc. Maybe since you welded your test pipes, the tp are no longer the weak link and the mid pipe is so it cracked. You migh thave bigger issues.

ISMSOLUTIONS

Honestly - the Crawfords where the most off-spec when we were checking this stuff out. I like Crawford stuff, and this was almost 18 months ago - when the latest version came out.

I've known the Crawford's and others to break on stock systems, let alone aftermarket catbacks.

Rick

ISMSOLUTIONS

The testpipes or HFC's wont have flex joints - the catback would.

Rick

Cux350z

iTrader: (162)

^i know, i was asking solo to come up with an example.

SOLO-350Z

iTrader: (26)

I just remember back in the day on the Maximas. When they made ypipes without flexjoints. The pipes were breaking.

ISMSOLUTIONS

Yep - because the Y-pipes were bent to fit close - not exact on all angles - hence a bind.

You do get what you pay for. Granted - there's not much to a testpipe - other than workmanship ;-)

plumpzz

iTrader: (10)

Perhydrocyclopentanophenathrene, isnt that a biological marker? lol

AdriaN-

I have the APS tp's and the exhaust itself has a good 12.7k miles on it. It was dealer installed when I bought the car.

2004Black350z

iTrader: (37)

That sucks man. I have only used AAm TPs and theyhave been great 4 over 20K miles. GL

stein

iTrader: (3)

I'd look at your motor mounts and make sure they're intact. Your exhaust shouldn't be busting welds like that!

AdriaN-

Hmmm this sucks. I've been thinking about getting another exhaust but I dont see myself wasting $1200 or so on another system. Besides that, im trying to go FI soon so i dont think i should touch anything until then.