New RL: Exhaust Pipe Rattles

[jbowden]

I noticed a rattle on the exhaust pipes and was watching from the rear as my wife drove into the garage (which has a small elevation from the driveway). What I saw was the pipe tips move a great deal when she hit the bump on the rear tires. I am going to inspect, but has anyone else noticed this?

Edit: What I see happening is there is not any horizontal support in the rear and the muffler and both pipes move together freely left to right.

[xmicro_Redline]

They should move some, they do on all cars to different extent, that is why the use rubber bushings and not just weld it to the car. That is not your problem, it is just out of alignment someplace. The car is so low, that without jacking it, it is impossible to fix.

My Magnaflow was chattering up under the passenger floor. I literally took a crow bar and carefully bent it down a smidge and now it is perfect.

Your best bet, since I assume you are talking about a factory exhaust, is to take it to the dealer, in 20 minutes he loosens up the clamps, fixes the alignment and your back on the road.

Good Luck

[fr0stb1t3]

Originally Posted by xmicro_Redline

They should move some, they do on all cars to different extent, that is why the use rubber bushings and not just weld it to the car. That is not your problem, it is just out of alignment someplace. The car is so low, that without jacking it, it is impossible to fix.

My Magnaflow was chattering up under the passenger floor. I literally took a crow bar and carefully bent it down a smidge and now it is perfect.

Your best bet, since I assume you are talking about a factory exhaust, is to take it to the dealer, in 20 minutes he loosens up the clamps, fixes the alignment and your back on the road.

Good Luck

While they should have some motion so they don't break when the motor twists due to its torque output. My old corvette was funny to watch when I rev'd it; the cars body would go one way and the motor and exhaust would go the other.

If it's enough motion that it is slapping against something or is causing an actual rattle, I'd go back to the dealership immediately.

[JRinKY]

The stock Kappa exhaust is one piece from the bottom of the catalytic converter to the tips of the outlets. It is attached to the cat, and the muffler is suspended on rubber hangers. There are no intermediate hangers, and there is really nothing to adjust.

You should be able to move the exhaust by hand to find the rattle. Grag the outlet tip and shake it any direction you can. If something is making contact you should be able to hear it. If the rattle is occuring under engine torque you may have a different problem, including the possibility of a faulty engine mount.

It is possible to access the front flange bolts without a lift. I swapped exhausts in mine without one.

If this car is still in warranty I would not hesitate to take it back for this problem. There is nothing worse than breaking something that will not be covered while "fixing" something that would be.

[jbowden]

I will be visiting the dealer service dept. this week and will have them take a look at it. I think the rattle is just the pipes hitting the bumper frame around them when they move horizontal. I can grap a pipe tip and rock it left/right easly.

[Boomer]

Our 'stock' exhaust did move on occassion, though it was almost imperceptible. We installed a upgraded one yesterday, and immediately noticed that both tips now move slightly. Not enough to rub, or cause noise.

There are 4 rubber hangers on the back, and two bolts / nuts at the manifold (pay attention to the o2 sensor wire). Nada else, and nothing to adjust.

[xmicro_Redline]

Originally Posted by JRinKY

It is possible to access the front flange bolts without a lift. I swapped exhausts in mine without one.

You got under the SKY without a jack or lift?? Damn you must be skinny, I cannot even get my head under there!

And you are right I forgot the stock was one piece. But either way I say go back to the dealer, they may need to bend one of the Exhaust mounts a bit.

[JRinKY]

xmicro_Redline : You got under the SKY without a jack or lift?? Damn you must be skinny, I cannot even get my head under there!

Not me, and not even my head, just my arm. One nut is accessible from the top, the other is arm's reach from the side.

[redhotchillipepper]

I also replaced my stock exaust with an aftermarket without the use of a lift. I did have to jack up the rear end considerably to pull the stock muffler out from under the car with the pipe attached from the cat back. If you have long enough arms you can reach the flange bolts on the cat from underneath the car without jacking. The stock muffler is a monster compared to the magnaflow.

[JRinKY]

redhotchillipepper : .... I did have to jack up the rear end considerably to pull the stock muffler out from under the car with the pipe attached from the cat back. ...

I wouldn't do it to avoid jacking, but I had to swap valences anyway, and with the rear valence removed I was able to slide the exhaust out without jacking.

[Antonio]

you're all lucky. I can't even get a jack under mine......still trying to work that out. I'm going to have to build my own extra long extended ramp to bring the car on to get the clearance for a jack....

[redhotchillipepper]

If you plan on doing your own maintenance you need to invest in a low profile racing jack and the jack pads required for lifting. I use this one: Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices