Put my Nismo exhaust on yesterday and it sounds great. Got a small problem though, I've got a rattle. The install went fine and I'm pretty sure everythings where it's suppose to be. Pretty sure it's hitting the crossmember. Anyone else run into this problem? Got a fix?

 

I had this problem. You are correct the the exhaust is touching the cross member. You need to put some shims on the cross member to lower it. There should be a big enough gap( about the size of your index finger) between the cross member and the exahust. Jeff/Jason at performance Nissan sale some shims.

Here is a picture of what the shims look like.

 

what size shims, I'll just pick some up @ a local hardware store. Don't wanna wait on shipping. Thanks for the info

 

bump

 

Or get some washers to create some space between the body and the cross member.The washer would be bigger than the screw used to screw in the cross member to the body.

 

Yeah just went and got 8 14mm washers and fixed the problem. Thanks!

 

Can you tell me what the rattle was like and when you could hear it? I have the Borla TD and it is hitting the cross member. I have a wicked rattle around 4500RPM and greater coming from the hatch area. I suspect the Borla is the problem.

Any info would be appreciated. I just picked up some washers but have yet to install them.

Thanks

JB

 

It would NOT rattle @ idle but over bumps and certain rpm's it would. Just a fast metal to metal sound that is not pleasnt at all. Just take the 4 crossmember bolts out and put washers in and bolt it back up. Took about 5 min.

 

The Borla rattle coming from the hatch area is either from the passenger side pipe hitting the rear sway bar or the bottom lip of the bracket that holds one of the rubber hangers.

The sway bar issue means you have to loosen the clamps on the pipe that goes into the rear muffler and twist it so the bend in the pipe over the sway has more clearance.

Go to this link for more info on things to check on the Borla rattle:

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....ighlight=borla

If you have RT Cats installed, you will always need the shims for the center brace because these cats come down a little lower than stock cats which makes your exhast hang on more of an angle from back to front.

 

Same problem with all aftermarket exhausts. The Problem is that your exhaust is vibrating against the cross bar. All you have to do is "re-set" the bolts of the whole exhaust system. What I mean by this is that; you need to loosen the bolts on your cats, and the lower part of your exhaust (last link between pipes and muffler), put a car jack, or anything that will lift the exhaust system over the cross bar (by at least 6 inches), and then re-tighten all the exhaust bolts. If this does not work, try the same method but with different parameters, i.e. maybe 8 inches above cross bar before you tighten all bolts. I have had the same problem probably around 10 times now because I keep fukking with my exhaust system (have after market SES Injen Exhaust, and High Flow cats), and keep interchanging them along with other mods to find the best combo etc, long story.

No need to have a professional mechanic to do this work, all you have to do is get under your car and re-torque 8 bolts. I've had the same problem, and it can easily be corrected.

By the way, it is very annoying to have an exhaust rattle

 

I have the Nismo exhaust w/ the RT cats too. The shims were not initial installed, and the exhaust rattled a lot. The shop that installed it forgot to put the shims the first time.

Now the rattling is gone. But I do get a slight rattle/buzz from the exhaust between 3500-4000 rpm. It's not there any other time. Either there is some rubbing, or perhaps resonance freq? Or am I crazy?

 

My Nismo exhaust is rattle free - - I installed mine and don't remember there being a clearance issue at that spot, I'll have to look just to see, but I'll keep the shim/washer fix in mind - thanks

Steve

 

Steve: You probably don't have a clearance issue if you do not have the RT Cats. If you get those in the future, you will have to put in the shims.

 

That must be the difference then, although ZU L8R didn't mention RT cats either?? "Wedge" looks like you have RT - what exhaust?

Thanks anyway for the info,
Steve

 

Steve, I have the Borla True Dual..........there was not a clearance problem with the center brace before the RT's were installed. Without the shims, the pipes would have hit the center brace following the RT install. This is why Performance Parts includes the shim kit with the RT's when you order from them, or when you have them do the install.

You are correct though, ZU L8R does not mention the RT's. Tolerances are very close under there for aftermarket exhausts with bigger dimensions or (in my case) a pipe going down the passenger side where the car's design did not take one into account. I guess those shims may be needed at times even without having the RT's.

Dean

 

I have stock cats for now