v bands leaking like a sift!!
v bands leaking like a sift!! not sure what is going on. this is on an all motor setup, no boost.
its the worst exhaust leak ive ever heard.
my exhaust guy tacked everything in place, then dropped it to fully weld it.
upon inspection, the rings may have warped just a hair from the heat.
we cut both welds, clamped the rings in place, then REwelded the pipes with the rings and clamps secure.
still leaks!!
was trying to make things easy. i should have just stuck with band clamps.
the connection is from headers to y pipe if it matters.
any suggestions or tips?
these things hold boost all day long and i cant even get them to stay quiet with minimal exhaust pressure.
its the worst exhaust leak ive ever heard.
my exhaust guy tacked everything in place, then dropped it to fully weld it.
upon inspection, the rings may have warped just a hair from the heat.
we cut both welds, clamped the rings in place, then REwelded the pipes with the rings and clamps secure.
still leaks!!
was trying to make things easy. i should have just stuck with band clamps.
the connection is from headers to y pipe if it matters.
any suggestions or tips?
these things hold boost all day long and i cant even get them to stay quiet with minimal exhaust pressure.
Sounds like they are warped a bit. If you over tighten them the clamp can get flared out and they will not seal well either. When tightening them a do it in steps using a small hammer to tap them while torquing them.
when you say warped, are you referring to the flanges or the clamp?
the flanges are dead seated with each other after the 2nd go round.
i did go a lil hulk on tightening the clamps the final time, but they still leaked prior with a loose, then a snug torqing.
im just at a loss. 120 bucks in parts and 90 in labor, and something still needs to be done.
im going to try to put red rtv all over them and let it dry before i snug the clamps back up. if not that, im going to buy a new set of clamps.
i really dont see the rings being the issue.
most frustrating thing ive run into in a while.
kinda feel weird now, cause i talked to the shop and i told him my problem.
his comment was, "yea, thats why i dont like v bands" and told me to use this oven stuff. looks like sandy black rtv????
talked to my exhaust guy and he looked up some diesel stuff, that actually connects into one another. would be a great alternative, but i dont want to waste any more funding on this.
ill just go back to band clamps. they were working fine to begin with.
dont reinvent the wheel.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,484
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From: Cecil County Raceway!!!
I bought some flanges a while back that were thin and I laughed when I saw them and returned them...
I use the thick machined flanges...yeah...they cost more, but they seal well...
I use the thick machined flanges...yeah...they cost more, but they seal well...
Yea, eBay had some for like $25 per assembly. I opted for a set of Vibrant brand assemblies from Texas Turbo Rebuild for $70 per set. They're a reputable shop, and the guys said they used them frequently and that they worked great. Hopefully I will get what I paid for.
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Are both leaking or just one.?
Couple of things, if the flanges are flat and are lined up, might be the tubing is in a bind pulling them off angle once you let all the part hang. Vband stuff helps to have one pc of tubing sticking out slightly out of one flange, and the other flanges tubing is slightly recessed. When installing, this helps keep them lined up during clamping. If the clamp is over tightened, the Vband part will get sprung and loose its ability to clamp tightly.
It only take a little spot to leak through any cracking etc will sound ugly....
If all else fails, get some hi temp rtv and smear a little on the flange and clamp them up. Wait a little bit and fire up.
Couple of things, if the flanges are flat and are lined up, might be the tubing is in a bind pulling them off angle once you let all the part hang. Vband stuff helps to have one pc of tubing sticking out slightly out of one flange, and the other flanges tubing is slightly recessed. When installing, this helps keep them lined up during clamping. If the clamp is over tightened, the Vband part will get sprung and loose its ability to clamp tightly.
It only take a little spot to leak through any cracking etc will sound ugly....
If all else fails, get some hi temp rtv and smear a little on the flange and clamp them up. Wait a little bit and fire up.
they are lined up perfect. when i dropped the y pipe this afternoon they sit flush, and arent in a bind.
i hope the rtv works, if it doesnt, im going to the track anyway.
i want to find out how bad the muffler is a restriction. i may end up going duals.
really dont want to, but i wannago fast.
i hope the rtv works, if it doesnt, im going to the track anyway.
i want to find out how bad the muffler is a restriction. i may end up going duals.
really dont want to, but i wannago fast.
V bands will sometimes leak. Especially under avehicle were exhaust moves around alot.
I always take and slip the vband past the exhaust pipe so that a lil bit stick out of one side to keep it from moving around. It keeps it lined up and easy to put together. Works perfect.
I always take and slip the vband past the exhaust pipe so that a lil bit stick out of one side to keep it from moving around. It keeps it lined up and easy to put together. Works perfect.
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
Likes: 109
From: Ohio
I've had to dab a little copper RTV on my band clamps before. It was from the piping binding.
I used Male/Female V-bands from Squeeze Performance before that seated perfectly. I clamped in both the driver's and passenger side manifold V-bands, tack welded the crossover, and then removed it and finished welding. The crossover warped. To get it back on I had to clamp in one side, pull pretty hard on the other to get it to line up and have someone tighten the clamp. Even though the bands were flat and true while the other side wasn't clamped on, the piping put them in a bind when they were both clamped together.
Smear a thing layer of copper RTV on the clamp, tighten it down, and let it sit for a day or so before putting any heat to it.
I used Male/Female V-bands from Squeeze Performance before that seated perfectly. I clamped in both the driver's and passenger side manifold V-bands, tack welded the crossover, and then removed it and finished welding. The crossover warped. To get it back on I had to clamp in one side, pull pretty hard on the other to get it to line up and have someone tighten the clamp. Even though the bands were flat and true while the other side wasn't clamped on, the piping put them in a bind when they were both clamped together.
Smear a thing layer of copper RTV on the clamp, tighten it down, and let it sit for a day or so before putting any heat to it.
I didn't even notice! 
RPS Vbands are the way to go. When I worked for them we had dozens of phone calls from people buying "kits" with shitty vbands on them. The general consensus was just to cut them off, and weld known good ones in place. I've run the same vbands now for years from them.
