Uh oh! What happened here?!

[KJ zGal]

So I was under my Jeep today, just checking things out, and I noticed that there is now a HUGE gap between the muffler and the tailpipe where they overlap!! This was not like this before, but I had noticed a difference in the sound lately, and this is most definitely the reason! Any ideas as to why this might have happened? I've already contacted Monroe to see if they do welding, which they do, so I'm going to bring it down there tomorrow for them to look at it and give me an estimate if I can't fix it. None of the clamps are loose--not even close! Here's an image of the problem:

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This ticks me off!

 

[HoosierJeeper]

To me at least, the tail pipe looks a bit crushed....

 

[Powerslave]

Something hit that while you were riding, because that doesn't happen for no reason...

Well, someone COULD have crawled undern and hit it with a hammer or something...

 

[KJ zGal]

It's not crushed though, it's uniform all the way around it. There's suddenly about a 1/4 inch gap. And I know it wasn't like that when I first installed it, as seen in this image:

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Is it possible to have a pipe expand or shrink due to temperature changes? I'm thinking I may just buy a new tailpipe or just use a straight pipe, but I'm not sure how to mount it if I do without losing too much ground clearance.

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A closeup of the way it originally looked.

 

[sleeve]

The pipe will espand and shrink with temperature. It will not expand 1/4" though.

My guess is that the gap has always been there from your mullfer install and you have just noticed it. Perhaps the gap was situated at the top of the muffler piping when it was installed and has shifted down

 

[Jeepin05]

I don't think they normally expand or shrink. I'm wondering if the tailpipe was a tad smaller than the muffler outlet, giving some play to the tailpipe when hitting bumps and such.

I could be way off base here but in your first pic, the clamp appears to be on tight, so not sure what could cause the tailpipe to bend/move like that.

Good luck.

 

[kj924]

So I was under my Jeep today, just checking things out, and I noticed that there is now a HUGE gap between the muffler and the tailpipe where they overlap!! This was not like this before, but I had noticed a difference in the sound lately, and this is most definitely the reason! Any ideas as to why this might have happened? I've already contacted Monroe to see if they do welding, which they do, so I'm going to bring it down there tomorrow for them to look at it and give me an estimate if I can't fix it. None of the clamps are loose--not even close! Here's an image of the problem:

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This ticks me off!

That's the result of doing it at home without the proper tools to do a correct install. I seem to remember someone telling you that before.

It looks as if the clamp was never tightened far enough as the muffler outlet isn't even crushed in to hold the tailpipe, not to mention the where you cut the old tailpipe....right before the bend......worst spot to do that unfortunately. Now, wouldn't have been easier to take it to a muffler shop to do this the first time?

 

[JeepJeepster]

Must be distorted b/c that pipe sure does look bent.

Either way, I just tightened the clamp down till it crushed the muffler to make a decent seal. I would make a recommendation on how to check it for leaks but since your Jeep is a manual Im not going to tell you to do anything around it while its running.

You could take it to a shop and get it welded but most likely the weld will look like crap. You may be able to find a place that has a good welder though.

Can you pull the pipe out of the muffler?

 

[tjkj2002]

That's the result of doing it at home without the proper tools to do a correct install. I seem to remember someone telling you that before.

It looks as if the clamp was never tightened far enough as the muffler outlet isn't even crushed in to hold the tailpipe, not to mention the where you cut the old tailpipe....right before the bend......worst spot to do that unfortunately. Now, wouldn't have been easier to take it to a muffler shop to do this the first time?

X2

 

[Uncle Krusty]

I have to side with KJ924 and TJKJ2002.

In my younger days, I too saved some money (I thought) by going the "clamp" route on a muffler replacement, only to end up at the shop (or a freind's) to have it welded propperly. More than once ](*,)

The heat down there with the cat and everything really causes alot of distortion and stress on things. I've had them both slide in further (as it apears your's did) and pop out.

The sad thing is that it will take you longer to drive to the shop than it will for them to weld up both ends...

 

[Powerslave]

Ahh, I know what that is, the motor torque, moves the exhaust, and the result is that bending away effect there, it's only one ONE side, right? When you put on the gas, the motor twists a little in the cradle, and, that shift to the left, transmits along the exhaust pipe, and without the proper fittings to flex the system with it, it will bend somewhere.

If you noticed BEFORE, with the stock system, you had the spring and bolts in the flanges, which allowed for flex. Now, you have replaced that with all solid connections all along the system. So, when the exhaust shifts to driver side way as you step on the gas, the weakest point in the clamps will cause a pivot inside the other pipe, and can oval it out a little, and that GAP looks like what happens with constant pressure and release, with engine torque.

 

[KJ zGal]

Hmm, alright. Well I kind of figured on replacing the tailpipe eventually anyway, since it looks darn ugly if you ask me. Either way, the clamp IS on tight, there is no chance of moving it, both myself and my dad have tried with a wrench and rachet and some other weird thing he pulled out of the toolbox. I'm thinking just a straight pipe back will suffice, along with a few welds. Unfortunately, I didn't have much choice when it came to cutting it off before the bend, since that is where the muffler ended, and those big diamond clamps are welded together in front too close to the CC to have cut before them, as I stated when I first put it together. My question is what caused it--tomorrow I will try to get another angle so you guys can see that the pipe is undamaged/unbent/un-distorted.

 

[Uncle Krusty]

You might want to check with the muffler shop, they have all the right tools (wish I had a fancy tube bender).

I had them bend me up a tail-pipe on another vehicle, and it really was quite reasonably priced. They charged a flat cost for the piece, no matter the bends. Not to mention it fit like it should, and didn't look like I pieced it together (Like Frankenstien).

 

[Atrus]

For sure, they can bend up whatever you want.

For $100, I had a local shop completely fab a new 2.5" downpipe, mount a 2.5" flex and high flow cat (I supplied) and run 2.5" piping all the way back to the rear "axle" on my Grand Prix. I am sure they could do a tailpipe for cheap.

 

[KJ zGal]

Yeah I don't imagine it would be too expensive, but I've spent a lot of money this month as it is lol--I still would like to do the side exit but I really want to keep the running boards on so i can't do that. I'll have to buy a tip too I guess, if I want it to look good. xD

 

[kj924]

Who needs running boards?
Get rid of those, get some rock rails, and get side pipes.

She needs the running boards to reach the roof. Being vertically challenged myself(5'6") I know where she is coming from..hehe But with the tires I have now, I have no problems standing on the tires to reach the roof rack, it works out perfectly.

Too bad about the exhaust though KJ zGal.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Im a little unclear how a tail pipe can be ugly. Personally I like the kj's tail pipe since its hidden under the rear bumper out of sight. That way no one knows where the growl is coming from.

To each their own though. Also, you can tighten that clamp down till it crushes the pipe as much as the clamp is able to crush. There really isnt a 'tight.'

You can sort of see where the muffler is crushed here. I put water around it to check for leaks.

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[HoosierJeeper]

Im a little unclear how a tail pipe can be ugly. Personally I like the kj's tail pipe since its hidden under the rear bumper out of sight. That way no one knows where the growl is coming from.

I like that also....

 

[KJ zGal]

So I took it down to Monro today and had them look at it, and they said all it needed was a weld. They spent quite a while going over it and making sure there were no leaks, etc., and now it sounds a heck of a lot better than it did these past few days! I even used my spiffy new camera to get another video for you guys =P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBtw34FajO4

 

[HoosierJeeper]

So I took it down to Monro today and had them look at it, and they said all it needed was a weld. They spent quite a while going over it and making sure there were no leaks, etc., and now it sounds a heck of a lot better than it did these past few days! I even used my spiffy new camera to get another video for you guys =P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBtw34FajO4

Not bad at all....