exhaust tightness? - Saxperience

1-1dicky · 9th July 2010, 00:40

how tight should the two bolts be that hold the cat pipe to the downpipe? this is on my mk1 cat under car. iv been told they cant be too tight or too loose as it has to flex any help appreciated

thanks

Sparco_Tom · 9th July 2010, 01:18

tight as you can get them, or tight enough so that the exhaust doesnt blow

bushy90 · 9th July 2010, 09:08

I am having trouble getting the olive clamp that joins the centre pipe to the backbox to secure properly and hold it tight, i used sealant and the clamp, its done up as tight as it goes, but the backbox wobbles slightly? is there a different sort of clamp i can get?

23carragold · 9th July 2010, 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by bushy90

I am having trouble getting the olive clamp that joins the centre pipe to the backbox to secure properly and hold it tight, i used sealant and the clamp, its done up as tight as it goes, but the backbox wobbles slightly? is there a different sort of clamp i can get?

This is the clamp you should be using:

If you over tighten it, you'll end up bending the connecting flanges and then you will have more problems trying to bend it back into shape. Do it as much as you can but don't put extreme pressure on it. A little gasket sealant should also work well, but not exhaust paste. That stuff is useless.

It just hardens and then eventually falls off due to the vibrations in the exhaust system.

bushy90 · 9th July 2010, 10:18

Nice one pal, shall go and purchase a new one, and some proper sealant, take it gum gum isn't all that then?

23carragold · 9th July 2010, 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by bushy90

Nice one pal, shall go and purchase a new one, and some proper sealant, take it gum gum isn't all that then?

That gum stuff is complete turd. Your exhaust system shakes when accelerating/decelerating, and because it hardens, the vibrations make it go brittle and crack it up, and it all falls out.

Get some silicone high temp gasket sealant, it's more flexible and far better.

bushy90 · 9th July 2010, 10:29

Thanks again for the advice, much appreciated, take it somewhere like halfrauds sell this?

23carragold · 9th July 2010, 12:02

They should do, but pop down to Euro Car Parts or GSF Car parts, cheaper there and usually you get better stuff.