On my way home today I noticed a new sound coming from the test pipes. Very unusual. Minutes later I got a SES light. I got home and jacked up the car and just as I figured... one of my test pipes was cracked. It's the passenger side Right by the flange that meets the Tanabe Y-Pipe. I turned on the car and sure enough it's leaking a lot of air. I have a look around and what do i see... the driver side test was also cracked. This one is cracked by the bung. I just got these maybe like 3 months ago.

Here's the pictures I took. I don't have my canon so I took pics with my iphone.

Drivers Side Test Pipe




Passenger Side Test Pipe



Anybody have any suggestions to some other test pipes? I purchased the Berk's because everyone had nothing but good things to say about them. I'm not knocking them or anything of that kind... it just sucks that this early on they cracked. I haven't hit anything or anything of that kind.

 

How many miles are on the pipes?
Do the pipes have support brackets?

 

titek with hangers ftw.

 

Helix SS Test Pipes. 15,072 miles. No problems (knock on wood).

 

My Helix test pipes broke at the hangers

They are great quality aside from the hangers. Surprisingly my cheap no name brand test pipes have been the most reliable I've had

 

Miles on the test pipes is exactly 6,321. The reason I know is because when I installed the test pipes I got the service done the next day.

The pipes do not have support brackets and Berk told me it would be fine.

 

I don't think support brackets are absolutely necessary IMO. I know of two different brands that have cracked at the brackets.

 

That stinks. I would hate to be replacing test pipes every 6,300 miles. The pipes are not costly - just a headache to install. Maybe Berk will refund your money?

 

I was pissed but things like this happen I guess. I try to stay positive. I hope they work something out with me. I've contacted them thru My350z so we'll see what happens. I was thinking of buying the Berk Metallic HFC's before this happened but now I just don't think that may happen.

 

I've also read that around the forums. I'm sure the one that cracked around the flange was maybe due to the lack of support bracket. But the one that cracked by the bung stumped me

 

Damn. I am going to order their HFC's. I hope that doesn't happen to me.

 

Does your Y-pipe have flex sections in it?

 

If you mean by the plate that's welded in between the y-pipe to keep them from flexing... Yes, it does.

 

Don't let this discourage you... It might just have been a flaw. I wanted their HFC's too.

 

that would be nice, they seem like they stand behind their product well, 6k miles isnt much.

 

Berk will make it right. Just need to email them.

 

crack right at the welds... not very confidence inspiring

 

i say ditch the tanabe y pipe and get the jic. my nismo y pipe cracked my helix test pipe and i switched to berks with jic y pipe and its amazingg. my favorite mod on my car is the jic ypipe. worth every penny imho.

 

I'll look into that. Maybe it's time for a change.

 

I sent them a PM but maybe I'll just email them directly.