This weekend i cleaned my Stillen CAI filter and discover that my MAF housing leg is broken. Did you discover the same problem?

 

I don't think so. Got a photo?

 

I don't have a photo but if you look at your MAF housing it have 4 holes (legs) where it connects to the Stillen CAI box. One of the legs broke on mine and the other 3 were cracked.

 

Mine are intact, and I've had it on there for about a year and a half. Sounds like maybe your fasteners were overtightened...? Did you do the install or was the CAI already on the car?

 

I installed it by myself 4-5 years ago and it was fine till now so I don’t think it was the install. I think the soft plastic material that Stillen use to make the filter box is what’s causing the problem. After several years of use the soft plastic “gives in” and causing uneven pressure on the legs.

 

Either that or the way it's installed put pressure on those bolts. Fortunately getting another MAF housing sans the maf sensor isn't expensive. If you don't get it replaced, you're going to let unmetered air into the intake system and the car won't run correctly

 

The cracks are in a location before the MAF. Air would be accounted for by the MAF but wouldn't be filtered.

 

I replaced the housing. My car was idling rough and not running smooth. I was thinking it was time to clean the filter when I discover the broken housing. The inside of the MAF housing was dirty because the broken leg allow dirty air pass without being filtered.
I just want to make sure people that using the Stillen CAI check it before they destroy the sensor. Also, if more people have this problem we need to find a fix for it, maybe metal plate that will create even pressure on all the housing legs.

 

Correct. I was mistaken. But I do think having air make that sharp turn right before the sensor would affect the readings. But yes, the opening is before the sensor and not after. My mistake

 

I've had mine on/off more times than I can count... it has held up fine for over five years.

The only thing I can think might have happened to op is intake tube bracket not bolted down to Plenum - that would cause excessive vibration/stress in the area(s) that cracked. Otherwise the is no logical explanation that the Stillen design (or material) could cause this.

Those bolts should only be torqued to about 45 in lbs... over tightening could be the problem.

BTW, the other side of the "flimsy plastic heatshield" is a solid piece of aluminum that you are bolted into. The plastic has nothing to do with cracking your maf housing mounting points.

 

That's good news, i hope mine was just a bad luck. I know i didn't over tighten the bolts because I read people breaking the housing doing so.
I want to fabricate a metal piece or maybe cut the original airbox to provide stronger more even connection between the MAF and the Stillen airbox.

 

What induction tube are you using? If z tube (or other with Plenum mount) are you sure it was bolted down always?

 

I'm using the z tube and always bolted. I bolt the z tube close to the engine to insure it's not rubbing on the ac tubes.

 

^^^ is that to say you notched the bracket to pull the tube inboard more?

 

i didn't notch the bracket