Really strange exhaust problem

[matthewb]

Hi all

Take a look at the attached photo. It shows the left and right side of the rear of the car. Notice anything?

I noticed the right tube sticking out yesterday. I'll SWEAR it wasn't like this a few days ago. I took it to my indie to get it lifted-up so we could have a look-see. The tube was actually slightly further left than the photo shows, nearly touching the rear fender. My indy took off the clamp and realigned it to be central - but it still stuck out.

There is no evidence of anything having hit the silencer to force the tube out like this. Everything seems solid and tight. The rear fender looks just fine. I had the left silencer replaced 6 months ago at OPC Cardiff when I was working in Wales. I had the lsd replaced last week but can't see how this could have upset the exhaust. My indie said he noticed the tube was mis-aligned to the left when he did the lsd but hadn't noticed it sticking out.

I have no idea what might be wrong but I really hate asymmetry. The car seems fine handling-wise but something in my water doesn't feel right.

Any help appreciated.

M

 

[T911UK]

Quite common Im afraid

You can try and slacken off all clamps and see if you can move the rear box and cat back a little

I tried this on mine, it still annoyed me so I ended up cutting about 30mm out of the tip and welding it back so at least the are even from the outside!

 

[matthewb]

Thanks Matthew

I think I know when I might have done this - leaving my Father's care home on Jan 24. The home's car park is on a steep slope down to the road, and when the front was on the road the back scraped on the slope. There was an awful noise! Shows how observant I am - that was 6 weeks ago.

We'll try loosening things and giving a bit of a shove - Clarkson's big hammer might come in useful. Otherwise it's the cut and weld option.

M

 

[matthewb]

Talking to some mechanically-minded friends over a pint today (yes, I know), someone suggested using some strong ratchet straps (2000kg 5m 50mm £20 on ebay) attached to the silencer (?) and something solid, say, the car-lift, and pulling really hard (but gradually, gently and lovingly ) to pull things back to where they ought to be.

Less stressful than whacking something.

Your collective thoughts?

M

 

[Wozy]

ORIGINAL: matthewb

Talking to some mechanically-minded friends over a pint today (yes, I know), someone suggested using some strong ratchet straps (2000kg 5m 50mm £20 on ebay) attached to the silencer (?) and something solid, say, the car-lift, and pulling really hard (but gradually, gently and lovingly ) to pull things back to where they ought to be.

Less stressful than whacking something.

Your collective thoughts?

M

I'd leave the beer alone, or at least your drinking mates remedy.


Mine was the same, it came to light when I fitted larger tailpipes. Problem with mine was twofold, 1, one side had the later silencer fitted which mean't it didn't have the silencer to tailpipe sleeve which added about 20MM to the other ones length, and 2, The bolt that held the top of the silencer support bracket was missing, allowing the silencer drop a little which pushed it forward.

I couldn't get the two absolutely equal, but what I did was loosen of the silencer holding strap, pushed back on the silencer, and then a friend tightened up the silencer strap whilst I held it there.

From an overall difference of say 40MM, I got it down to 10-12MM. Not really noticeable unless you really look for it.

 

[matthewb]

Thanks Warren

Interesting. My indie has said he'll do the ratchet-strap thing if I want but he won't take responsibility if anything breaks. Undrerstandable. I'll give it more thought.

M

 

[Mark Elder]

ORIGINAL: matthewb

Talking to some mechanically-minded friends over a pint today (yes, I know), someone suggested using some strong ratchet straps (2000kg 5m 50mm £20 on ebay) attached to the silencer (?) and something solid, say, the car-lift, and pulling really hard (but gradually, gently and lovingly ) to pull things back to where they ought to be.

Less stressful than whacking something.

Your collective thoughts?

M

This sounds a bit like what I tried with my spectacles after I sat on them. Just gently bend them back, snap. . .

More seriously this thread has caused me to go and check my tail pipes - oh a really wish I had not looked - "they are all like that sir". Only about 15 mm or so difference between them, but now I've seen it I'll not be able to focus on anything else.[8|]

 

[matthewb]

I know the feeling very well, Mark. I wish I hadn't noticed mine. I didn't for 6 weeks. Ignorance is bliss.

Why not try the ratchet-strap idea and let me know how you get on. Only joking.

M

 

[T911UK]

In this case, 15mm is good.............

 

[LK_991GTS]

Mine are the same, i.e. not the same []

 

[matthewb]

Oh dear. When did you notice? Am I responsible for another person for whom ignorance would have been bliss? If so, I'm very sorry.

M

 

[topcats993]

How fresh are your engine mounts ? as they get weaker and sometimes the fluid leaks out of them, the engine just might twist a little as one side drops

 

[matthewb]

Engine and gearbox mounts replaced 2 years ago at JZM. The movement of the pipe is 'backward' not 'down'.

 

[T911UK]

OK, OT and blatant plug....................I have reg no A911 MAT for sale..........................[]

 

[matthewb]

I am tempted, I won't deny it, but I really like my (relative) anonymity - deniability is a good thing when you have as much fun as I do [] Let me think on it. Thanks

M

 

[T911UK]

Just to tempt to more;

 

[D Ward]

This seems to be common problem, ive had mine around 14 years and the right side sticks out, i just thought it needed adjustment but never got round to it.

It wasn't till my brother bought one a few years back which had the same issue, the right side sticking out more than the left, we looked at his and tried to adjust it, but no luck.
Nothing looks bent or out of place.

Does anyone know the cause? or more importantly the fix
As the common answer "they are all like that" can't be correct, as they didn't leave the factory with one tail pipe sticking out further than the other

 

[matthewb]

Well - I finally plucked-up the courage to go ahead with pushing/pulling the right-side exhaust back to where it should be - i.e. sticking out the same as the left-side.

I discussed the options with Tony (WrighTune) and he was in favour of the following ...
remove the tip, cut-off the collar on the pipe, trim back the pipe 15mm, weld the collar back onto the pipe, refit the tip. This struck me as safer than my plan (which might break something) but it was a kludge fix, i.e. cosmetically OK but I'd always know that we'd fixed the symptom, not the problem.

He agreed to have a go at pushing/pulling the exhaust back-in but only on the understanding that it was a case of 'on your own head be it' etc. I bought a ratchet-strap off eBay and went round to Wallingford today. We lifted the car and slackened all the metal straps and clamps - the exhaust pinged-back about 10mm (there was a witness-mark from the strap visible on the silencer) to almost where it should have been - only about 5mm too far out.

We looped the ratchet-strap around the silencer and a part of the sub-frame that was in-line with the silencer and ratcheted hard, measuring as accurately as possible given all the curves. A few little pings later we released the tension. As expected, the exhaust slipped-back a little but not much. Knowing we were near, we had another go with the ratchet-strap, adjusted the tip (a bit of fine alignment with a rubber hammer required), tightened all the straps and clamps, lowered the car and, hey presto, it was pretty much perfect - perhaps a mm further-in than the left side! Slightly over-zealous ratcheting, methinks!

It was about an hour's work. The cost? Nothing, although I should say that I have put a fair amount of business his way recently. Thanks Tony.

Anyone else with this problem got the balls to have a go? Tony now has the technique off-pat, if anyone feels they have the cajones!

M