2 issues with the Weapon R Header

DelosGermaine · 09-28-2009, 12:10 AM

Just put the header on thursday. I really like it but I'm having some problems that are making me hate it at the same time.

1. I heard that comptech has a rattling issue with their header. I'm not sure what exactly this "rattle" is but my problem is similar except it's making my car rumble and shake whenever I'm decelerating under 5 mph. also randomly at idle in Park (I'm Auto). always shaking during reverse and sometimes in neutral. I'm worried I did something wrong during installation but am almost positive I didn't. If this is the same problem I can easily go to the exhaust shop and have them weld on another hanger for like $10. to support the weak area. I did notice that this area of the exhaust where the test pipe meets the cat back flexes a lot when I step on the gas.

2. Before I installed this header I had an exhaust issue with tone. I liked my tone but was getting a buzzing crackling coming out of the tailpipes becuase I was running straight pipes and with the k24 that's what happens. Anyways, TodaSi thought that it was coming from my test pipe directly beneath my car but it wasn't. However, now that I installed the weapon R header; it is. It sounds like a leak in the exhaust but I'm nearly positive there's no leak. It sounds like spraying water almost, or how it sounds like driving on wet roads (if that makes sense). Some of my options would be to remove the test pipe, which I won't do. But I think the other option was to wrap the test pipe with exhaust wrap.

so as of right now....don't really like driving my car, but if those two issues were fixed I would love it

oh and btw I was in the process of installing the ingalls camber kit and got on 3 of the 4 arms but had to put the project on hold. my mom cleaned out the garage a couple days later and my box with the 3 original arms and the 1 ingalls arm disappeared. Looked everywhere maybe 100 times and can't find them

'06pwptsx · 09-28-2009, 12:49 AM

Thats why women dont belong in a garage....kidding. My fiance would kill me if she saw this, she actually pretty good in the garage. But sorry I have no advise on the header issue. It is a race header though right? Maybe that plays a role.

tekneek · 09-28-2009, 01:59 AM

1. The comptech header has an issue with shaking because there is nothing holding it to the car. the stock header has a bracket piece that holds it below. thats why you're getting the shacking.

evertp1 · 09-28-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekneek

1. The comptech header has an issue with shaking because there is nothing holding it to the car. the stock header has a bracket piece that holds it below. thats why you're getting the shacking.

+1 most aftermarket exhaust are like this. My J's shook the whole car no matter how fast or what gear I was it. There was nothing holding the header as you mentioned. But you get the good with the bad, accept it.

xjohnkdoex · 09-28-2009, 10:05 AM

if you search around the forum, there was a member who used an L-shaped steel bracket combined with washers and bolts to reinforce the header/cat to the frame of the car to eliminate the vibration and did it with success.

i have the CT-E header on my car. i don't think it's that bad. it's more of a vibration that comes and goes. in rare cases, i hear a rattle, but it happens like once every few months at the most.

Jeremiah · 09-28-2009, 11:48 AM

I would have it up on a lift, start the engine and check for exhaust leaks. You really should have a cat on your exhaust, it is both illegal, and claiming no responsibility for the environment. The good thing about a cat, is any exhaust leaks after it, show up as black soot on the tail pipe, easier to trace down. Before the cat you will have to check for the heated "wavy" air escaping the pipe.

If there are no exhaust leaks, then you know your seal is good, but it sounds like a leak to me. As far as your rattle goes, this is aftermarket, there is a a reason that it isn't like that from the factory. If you go aftermarket, there are certain aspects of the car you give up. I agree with others, look into having an exhaust shop weld a bracket to the header and mount it to where the stock exhaust manifold mounts to.

Question: Does the exhaust have a flex pipe in it between the header and the cat?

DelosGermaine · 09-28-2009, 01:02 PM

Not to create a political debate but I'm not goin to put on a cat despite the environmental irresponsibility. High flow cats cost too much and I would have to do way to much work to even get them to correctly mate up. Also as long as I pass emissions I don't care since only a miniscule region of the united states is required to pass such a test. People in central Illinois have never heard of emissions nor have anything similar.

I read about the L shaped bracket solution but I had the test pipe welded to my cat back because I couldn't find the proper 2.5" flange and gasket. So I would have no where to bolt it. I did heat up the WR hanger and bent it backwards so it would fit in the oem bushing. Today though my car was only shaking in reverse. It's like it's different everyday but not every time I turn on the car. Idk why it seems like it's breaking in, which glass packs do but idk how responsible the glass pack is because it was doing this much worse before I had the glass pack installed.

DelosGermaine · 09-28-2009, 01:09 PM

Oh and there's hot wavy air everywhere because the entire exhaust is hot. And no there's no flex pipe. Have you seen this header before?

stukibuilt · 09-28-2009, 01:59 PM

Well, you have replaced something that typically has some give (factory header with flex) with a solid race header... There will be some vibrations carried through the piping, but they aren't that bad with my MT and I only notice them at idle with my stereo off... Also, on installation, the springs that sit between the header and TP section, on my car one goes one way, the other goes the opposite direction... it's just how it had to be done to fit my car...

The WR header is not made for the TSX, so you should always be prepared for little nuances... I've been debating whether or not an ETD would be a good idea as a possible band-aid or if it would cause more harm than good... I suppose it would be contingent on the stiffness, I've just been hesitant because of the motor mount system the TSX has... In any event, get it jacked up and see if there is anything out of the ordinary and let us know what happens...

BTW, I didn't secure the hanging bracket (where it is located, it isn't that much of a benefit with regard to support), and I definitely didn't weld my TP to the B pipe... This may be an issue considering this is the first I've heard of anyone doing this... In theory, it shouldn't because the seal between the two should still transfer the same degree of vibration, but if you didn't do the welding and set up the jig perfectly, the geometry of the support system could be slightly off, which could cause some uneven load on certain spots of the exhaust... Just a thought... Ain't physics fun?

TSX_WS · 09-28-2009, 02:53 PM

I have the 2nd issue with my header eventho I changed the flex pipe. It is NOT hissing.... its just some high, sharp sound close to rasp.

Jeremiah · 09-28-2009, 03:19 PM

I politely disagree with the illinois emissions thing, I live in the Metro East of St. Louis, and we DO have emissions, and we do have to pass. My turbocharged 98 Accord passed emissions 3 times, all done with a catco cat that cost me 50 bucks.

The wavy air will be right at spots where the header meets up to your exhaust pipe section, you want to look to where it is welded, or your gaskets are at. If the gaskets have been compromised, you will get an exhaust leak. If no leaks, then you are just experiencing a standard header noise. When I did my first header on my 90 Accord, I had a bit of a pinging noise, just due to the header primaries being so much thinner than the stock cast iron manifold.

You can put in a flex pipe on your own, any exhaust shop can perform this surgery. I have seen the pictures of this header, looks like a pretty standard header.

TodaSi · 09-28-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremiah

If no leaks, then you are just experiencing a standard header noise. When I did my first header on my 90 Accord, I had a bit of a pinging noise, just due to the header primaries being so much thinner than the stock cast iron manifold.

If you have no leaks, this is what you are hearing. Going from cast iron to a 16g stainless steel is a significant difference in NVH. You are gonna hear a louder exhaust noise come through the SS, add the fact you have a thin (16g) test pipe and you have the same effect again.

Take some pictures from under the car and post them. You will have some black soot marks coming out where ever you have a leak.