mk3cn4

iTrader: (3)

The bar that goes from the diff to the rear of the trans parallel to the drive shaft (I believe this is the torque arm) is hitting my welded on exhaust slightly. I'd like to cut a 1/2 inch notch in it just enough to clear the pipe maybe 1/3 of the way back, shaped like a semicircle so my exhaust won't hit, say 2-3" long. Is this a big no no? How about if I have someone weld reinforcement? Car is mostly street driven stock with some occasional track use.

babbage1109

iTrader: (11)

Id much rather move the exhaust then cut the torque arm... Break a torque arm could mess up your driveshaft rear end tranny.

mk3cn4

iTrader: (3)

How about if I BFH it? It doesn't need much actually, it's just rubbing/bumping pretty much, I bet banging down that lip would do it. I'm not pulling off that exhaust, it's welded on and that would be a nightmare, so the alternative would be to live with the rattle.

Anyone have an idea of what the real risk is? Anyone have one bend or break? I still have stock diff and will never have stickies on it.

babbage1109

iTrader: (11)

Is it stock?

mk3cn4

iTrader: (3)

Yep, all stock just LT's with 3" exhaust that's welded on all the way back past the point of knocking, stock TQ arm, stock M6, stock rear, street tires, minor mods so near stock HP. Possibility of doing a mild cheater cam or something at MOST down the road.

Just searching around this site and others, seems like even in the RARE chance that it broke at the point of my notch it'd still keep the diff somewhat straight and just bang the hell out of stuff, right? Not a life-threatening event, right?

babbage1109

iTrader: (11)

On a stock one I wouldn't worry. I thought you meant a tubular after market One. Lol sorry. Yeah the stamped torque arm I would notch it

97FormulaWS-6

iTrader: (1)

Depends how it fails... best case it'll just bang, worst case you dump the rear axle out of the car at highway speeds.... you tell me if that is a life-threatening event...

Personally... I wouldn't touch the TA... Notch the exhaust or BFH the exhaust tubing, not a critical part of the suspension of the car.

SVTKilla02

I'm going to go with ^^ this guy. I would never cut on a critical suspension piece for exhaust clearance. When torque arms fail it can be ugly, don't assist in it happening!

bill12690

iTrader: (4)

I'd also agree with him, try your best to mod the exhaust. Although if you notch it and weld in a damn good reinforcement, I guess it's not the worst thing you could do.

BMR Tech2

iTrader: (5)

NO. haha The reason I say no is because you should always approach fabrication/modifications with this in mind. "What's more expensive, what's harder to replace, what's more important."

Exhaust is cheap, metal, and has no other important function other than evacuating spend gases away from the motor and out the back. The torque arm, on the other hand, performs a vital role in the function and performance of the car just rolling down the road. It's expensive, and shouldn't be altered.

So, with that in mind and using my rule of thumb, the obvious choice is to not modify the torque arm. Just find a shop that can do it for you. Shouldn't cost more than $50 or $75 to work a small section.

- Kevin

mk3cn4

iTrader: (3)

Good logic, probably good advice.

Maybe I'll look for a way to squish the pipe somewhat oval shaped, not sure how I'll do that while it's still welded to the header like that lol.. jaws of life would be handy right now.

I can't BFH the pipe obviously, no room... prolly even if I took the torque arm off still not a lot of room to swing it.

Will keep thinking about it but yea I think I'll focus on getting the pipe out of the way of the torque arm instead of other way around. The posts above all make sense.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Don't let these couch queens tell you what you can and can't do. I'm KNOWN around here for my notched torque arm true duals. The ground clearance was awesome and I never had a failure. IF you notch you will need to re-brace by welding appropriately. No big deal for a competent welder. I don't have a ton of pics but may be able to dig a couple up.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Installed pics:

bill12690

iTrader: (4)

I didn't know that, lol. Not trying to be a dick, just didn't know it had been done, and tested well. Helps to know someones done it!

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Here meaning locally....not necessarily this website.

DOC-Z

iTrader: (2)

^^^ What he said.

It can be done, but I would DEFINITELY go overboard on the re-inforcement. n fact, if you think the patch and re-inforcement is "good enough", take it one step further and go a little bigger/stronger.

Then, make sure what you did doesn't rust and weaken the notched out portion.

BMR Tech2

iTrader: (5)

Or......you could just simply modify the exhaust since it's still the easier solution to your problem.

Just sayin' haha
- Kevin

MeentSS02

iTrader: (11)

I was thinking the same thing, until I saw this:

Everything would have been fine and dandy until the decision was made to make the exhaust a permanent fixture instead of an easily removable one...that's why I'd never recommend welding the exhaust to the headers since you essentially make servicing the transmission or anything else in the exhaust's path nearly impossible without cutting it off.