First I should clarify it is NOT a "Nismo" gasket. The original gasket was.

I had my Nismo catback installed 2 years ago by a local exhaust shop that's been around for at least 40 years. Very cool people.

When I had it installed 2 years ago, after about one hour of driving, the exhaust sounded like a monster truck. When I got to look at it one of the mid-pipe to resonator pipe bolts was missing as well as most of the gasket.

I assumed the bolt snapped or wasn't tightend down right or whatever and that caused it to blow out.

So they replaced the gasket with one they had that was suppose to be virtually identical to the original. It went out after a few months and this happened a few more times. This is the 6th time this gasket has needed to be replaced in 2 years. Every time since then when it has blown out, both bolts have always remained, unlike the first time.

It's getting really old really fast. I asked they guy the last time I had it replaced (the 5th time) if this thing goes out again, is there anyway you can just weld that section permenently shut, so there won't be any gasket to blow out and he said yes they do that sometimes.

My questions are.

1. Does anybody know if the circled gasket in the Nismo packaging pic, is the one that goes between the mid pipe to the resonator piping? Is this Nismo gasket made out of aluminium or some kind of metal or made of some kind of composite material that will just break down and blow out in 6 months?

2. Has anybody had some kind of slip pipe conector custom welded to their exhaust like in the pic below by just ditching the whole flange/nut & bolt gasket connector stuff? By using the slip joint connectors and a U clamp or two it might be easier for somebody to remove that section to replace the clutch and there would be no gaskets. But I'm thinking even with the slip joint they would still have to remove the exhaust canister section anyway to be able to slide them apart.

I have not had any problems with any other gaskets but this one section.


I have had it with replacing the gasket 2-3 times a year but if anybody thinks I will have no problem by getting the original Nismo replacemenst gaskets maybe I will pay the 70 bucks and see how long they last. Thing is I would be pissed to spend 70 bucks on the gaskets if they too end up failing as well, when I could have just had it welded shut and been done with the BS.

I'm really thinking about just getting the SOB permentally welded together but would probably be a big PITA for whoever has to replace my clutch someday. Guess they would probably have to remove the whole damn exhaust from where the y pipe connects to cats all the way back to the muffler to replace the clutch, which I'm sure would be a pain.

 

Will the OEM multi-plate metal gasket used in the same area not work? Those gaskets pictured are absolute junk and any shop will have those available for a couple of dollars. The OEM metal style gaskets work far better and will never blow out. The OEM gasket might not have the exact bolt spacing, but you could always drill those out to make them work. What's the inner diameter of the Nismo setup? OEM is around 2.45".

 

those gaskets pictured are nismo gaskets.

so i believe they would still be considered OEM quality

 

Have you tried using copper RTV on the gasket (both sides) before installation?

Where is the gasket leaking from? Top/bottom/sides?

 

They might be Nismo, but they're not near as nice as the metal multi-plate gaskets that come on the OEM exhaust. The Nismo gaskets pictured are no different than the ones available for $2 at one of thousands of exhaust shops in this country.

 

I doubt they added anything to the gaskets.

It leaks from whatever part of the gasket gets the weakest and blows out. I've seen a couple of the previous blown gaskets and they just looked like they were fried from heat. Brittle, thinner in some spots than others and kinda charred crispy looking.

I still have my stock exhaust but seriously doubt the gasket is still on it.

If anybody can confirm that it's possible to use the OEM gasket with some slight modification to fit the Nismo, I might try picking one up at the dealer, if it is actually made out of multi plate metal.

If not just gonna weld the thing closed.

Thanks

 

Try copper gasket sealant in place of exhaust gaskets. My friend was tired of his Evo gaskets blowing out and used the sealant and hasn't had any leaks in a year.

 

If you do decide to fab up a coupler, just make sure it's made of stainless...

 

This seems weird to me. I installed my Fujitsubo exhaust using the same type of gasket that you showed, i.e. the semi-squishy, silver/gray colored ones, that I bought from some online parts distributor for probably $2.00 each. It's been just about 2 years now and I've never had a problem. Well, I've never gotten back under there to look, but it doesn't sound like I'm having any problems.

Something tells me that the gasket(s) are not the issue - there is something else somewhere in the system that is causing the gaskets to fail. This issue seems pretty rare and I'm at a loss for what that could be. My first reaction is that it could be gasket deformation due to extreme heat, but a) the gasket should be made to take extreme heat, and b) if the gasket is normal then why is your exhaust gas so hot that it fails the gasket?

 

dude, get some of that black tar exhaust sealer, you don't even need a gasket with that stuff and it stays forever, even on my rx-7 with the higher exhaust temps. also, V-bands FTW

 

Yeah it's kinda weird why it goes out so much. I kind of thought it might be because of oil consumption and all the oily looking crap I seen coming out of the tips once in a while. Maybe the crap weakins the gasket but why not the others? dunno.

 

I used the OEM Gaskets, no problems yet. Im sure the dealership can hook you up with some. The way I look at it, Nissan made the car to not ever need to change out the stock exhaust and last for ever, those stock oem gaskets that come with it will probably do the same. Also, check the torque settings, who knows man the wrench might be out of calibration. 6 times is a little weird imo.

 

That doesn't look like the Nismo gaskets we get at our shop from Nismo and we buy direct, not through a dealership. I'd double check that, maybe they've updated their gaskets in the last two years, but Nismo packages come with the stock style gaskets on all the stuff we've done.

 

Well I just had them install another gasket. The one they took out was one of those composite looking things and as I figured it was fried/crispy, like the previous ones. This time they put in a metal/multiplate gasket type.

I didn't plan on leaving without having it welded shut permentally this time but since I wasn't sure if all the previous gaskets were that composite stuff, I would give this metal one a shot.

If/when this one goes out, I'm taking the whole exhaust off, including cats, just leave the headers and run it Harley style loud. kidding.

He told me how they have removed the resonators on some 350Z's and done custom true duel setups too.

I will give this one about 3-5,000 miles before it craps out. HA.

He also mentioned the silicon trick and no gasket but I'm convinced that will last less than the composite gaskets.