So i was adjusting the hangers on my exhaust tonight and re bolting everything down, and I noticed that the springs around the flex bolt was just loose not doing much of anything. probably just rattling around down there making noise.

I also noticed that some carbon splash on the underside where there is an exhaust leak from the header to the testpipe. I took the springs off and threw some washers on to snug the header to the tp to get a good seal. The question is why is this part flexible to begin with? Why wouldnt you want that completely sealed off? Maybe the fitment of my t1r header/exhaust doesnt mate up right with my invidia tp. Was it a bad idea to snug this down?

 

Now your header and/or bolts on the head may crack.

 

Something is not assembled right.

The spring loaded clamp system is the most bulletproof design out there.

Get the springs installed right. They should compress 75% or so, but dont let the spring coils touch each other.

 

"but dont let the spring coils touch each other. "


??

 

They need some room to flex. If they touch no there is no room to flex. It would be just like bolting it down w/o the springs

 

He means, "Don't compress each individual spring to the point where each turn of the spring is compressed against the next turn (e.g. fully compressed)."

Sounds like you may be missing a gasket?

 

Im using everything that came with the stuff I bought. The invidia tp just doesnt seem to have a lip that is thick enough to catch the springs. The only way that the springs are compressed at all is if i pry the tp away from the header. Otherwise they are just loose. I'll try to get pictures of it tomorrow.

 

the stock flanges are probably thicker than the ones on the new setup no allowing the springs to compress now. The OEM bolts and springs were really made for the OEM sysytem , they may not swap over to every aftermarket setup. The flexible design allows things to move as the engine moves and as other parts move , rigid parts may fail in the long term.

 

So if that is the case, there shouldnt be any foul with me putting a washer on on the spring side to at least give the spring a little pressure, but still have some room for flexibility

 

you're right there is no harm in doing that, but there isn't any benefit over a new set of shorter rigid bolts/nuts either.

On the factory setup the wide part of the bolt passes through the cat flange hole without touching the flange (as the hole is larger than the bolt), the bolt mates up to the back side of the header flange. The the springs mate with the cat. flange as they are larger than the bolt holes, thus giving that bit of flexibilty if parts need to move. On your setup you likely don't have a larger hole on the TP side, thus it will act as a rigid bolt setup, so not any different than if you installed a set of shorter bolts/nuts.