Hey all, got a problem I haven't seen yet. Got an HKS Hi-Power true dual and Fast Intentions RHFC (zero drone, btw. Great setup) and a Soul Function Rear Lateral Brace. The exhaust is contacting my rear lateral brace ever so slightly, even with all new exhaust bushings (including a stiffer Nismo one at the midpipe mount) and the promise that true duals fit this brace. To be fair, it is a very, very small amount of contact where I get a buzz/rattle only when the engine is fully hot, at idle, in Drive.

What solutions do people have? The steel clamp solution hasn't worked, and I'm close to either grinding part of the brace away or part of the exhaust flange away (contact is the flange from midpipe to driver rear muffler, if it was a half inch forwards it would clear). Anyone ever have this problem and possible solution?

 

Nobody using a true dual setup with a rear lateral brace? Coulda sworn I've seen a few.

 

I would take it down to a muffler shop and just have them relocate that flange, probably cost you about $100.

They can cut out the flange so it has about 3 inches of pipe on one side and 6 inches of pipe on the other side and literally just flip the thing around. That would relocate the flange 3" one direction.

 

Ugh, I was really hoping to not have to cut up my new (to me) exhaust, but what you're saying does make sense...gonna give one more go with cutting a custom hanger and hopefully that does it, otherwise down to the shop we go.

 

Well, I've wrapped both exhaust mount points with some beefy mylar heat-wrapping to increase the diameter/reduce metal to metal contact and used two stainless steel clamps to hold the pipe in place. Yet to test drive, but the piping is no longer hitting my bracing, and is still clear of the differential. Seems to be negligible vibrations entering cabin through the stiffer "mount", but it'll do for now. I think long term is punching/cutting my own custom rubber mount for the height that I need.

Gonna have to stay away from the cutting solution as due to the bracing position, I would need to remove the brace (essentially installing control arms in the rear again), do the work, and re-mount the brace. Waaaay to much work to be honest (plus at least one alignment, depending on distance to shop). Plus, I would hate to irreversibly modify the exhaust.

 

It's just metal, there's no such thing as "irreversible"

Cut/weld/grind as needed.