Technical Flexijoint

[Chiddleston]

Had a look under car recently to find source of a tapping/exhaust blow sound type noise and noticed this on flexijoint. Centre pipe was replaced 2 years ago with flexijoint but this doesnt look normal to me. Or is it normal for a 2 year old pipe?

 

[DaveMcT]

Get someone to bing op the exhaust outlet. Only leaks in the exhaust system will be obvious. 2 years is not a long time, but there are great many really cheap & nasty exhausts on the market that don't last much longer. Also check you have the support clamp just after the catalyst and the "dog bone engine mount is not worn. Excess movement will over-work the flexi joint.

 

[rmjbn1]

Get someone to bing op the exhaust outlet.

@DaveMcT I guess you meant to type 'bung up the exhaust outlet'?
As in, block the tail pipe temporarily and any leak in the exhaust will make itself heard.

That flexi does look rough for two years old, but then it is the lowest point on the car and gets scuffed easily. My flexi is blowing at the moment because it's been bashed on bumpy lanes too many times. The woven steel mesh on mine has completely disappeared!

 

[koalar]

Yep just put hand over the tail pipe to find a leak

Yep I bashed bend on the CAT on a monthly basis

 

[DaveMcT]

Sorry, My keyboard is getting old and auto correct is a right pain in the arse. All too easy to miss its silly words.

 

[rmjbn1]

Microsoft never miss an opportunity to promote Bing

 

[Chiddleston]

But if theres a hole/crack/split in the pipe under the steel mesh it could it sound like a blowing exaust then seal itself enough to quieten once the cars warmed up?

 

[koalar]

But if theres a hole/crack/split in the pipe under the steel mesh it could it sound like a blowing exaust then seal itself enough to quieten once the cars warmed up?

If it's torn, it's torn. Put your hand over the back of the exhaust. If pressure builds up and you can't hear a leak (it will be obvious with the exhaust blocked) , it's fine

It's a simple test and 100% effect as far as I know at finding leaks up the catalytic converter.

The photo is inconclusive looks more like a few drops of oil to me than black soot from a blow, I don't see any axle stands only a jack in the video, please stay safe

 

[rmjbn1]

Here's where my flexi went. Possibly not relevant to OP as this is all impact damage.

I used an angle grinder to extend the slit (red lines on pic - yellow line shows roughly where the pipe from the cat ends), then could prise open the broken remains of the front section and slide it off, before cutting the flexi off.

I used a 45mm x 250mm flexi: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112562607835

The pipe at the rear of the flexi is smaller (40mm) than the front, so it's probably better to get the entire centre section of pipe which includes the flexi, but I couldn't get one delivered at reasonable cost in Ireland.

 

[DaveMcT]

That looks like a good candidate for a bash plate under the flexi. Don't forget the bracket just after the catalyst.

 

[rmjbn1]

Yes, I've been reading porta's sump guard thread with interest and wondering what to do to protect the exhaust from impact.

I suppose I could listen to my mum and slow down...

...but as anyone who's ever driven in Ireland would agree, 40mph is enough to cause bottoming out on the bumpy roads over here. If a bit of bog sinks, the road goes with it!

I've been contemplating this undertray for a while, mostly to reduce drag:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Undertray-Under-Engine-Cover-Rust-Shield-for-Fiat-Panda-2003-2012/324036082864?fits=Car+Make:Fiat|Modelanda&hash=item4b720e3cb0:g:RGkAAOSwGyZeFb6l&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&siteid=0&customid=&campid=5335817148&toolid=10001&mpt=3996861

But I don't think that plastic would offer much impact protection. And it also doesn't look like it extends as much as I'd like either.

I'm thinking of ABS sheet either side of the exhaust with a steel bash guard over the bend in the exhaust.

In fact, I was thinking of swinging the front clamp on the flexi round so the studs are pointing down, so it's sacrificial to protect the new flexi. But then I don't want to deliberately invite further impact. Hmm. Any thoughts?

 

[rmjbn1]

Don't forget the bracket just after the catalyst.

Aye, good point. I removed the rusty remains and replaced it with an exhaust clamp bolted to a fairly chunky strip of steel. Not my finest work, but does the job.
Oh, and the sump looks wet, not because it's leaking (yet), but because I smeared it with old oil as I always do when I'm under there.

 

[DaveMcT]

You can increase the rear ride height with a spring cush rubber between the spring and axle spring pan. The front would need a special spacer to go between top mount bearing and spring top seat. A pile of washers will not do it but its would be easy enough to engineer..

 

[porta]

Yes, I've been reading porta's sump guard thread with interest and wondering what to do to protect the exhaust from impact.

I suppose I could listen to my mum and slow down...

...but as anyone who's ever driven in Ireland would agree, 40mph is enough to cause bottoming out on the bumpy roads over here. If a bit of bog sinks, the road goes with it!

I've been contemplating this undertray for a while, mostly to reduce drag:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Undertray-Under-Engine-Cover-Rust-Shield-for-Fiat-Panda-2003-2012/324036082864?fits=Car+Make:Fiat|Modelanda&hash=item4b720e3cb0:g:RGkAAOSwGyZeFb6l&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&siteid=0&customid=&campid=5335817148&toolid=10001&mpt=3996861

But I don't think that plastic would offer much impact protection. And it also doesn't look like it extends as much as I'd like either.

I'm thinking of ABS sheet either side of the exhaust with a steel bash guard over the bend in the exhaust.

In fact, I was thinking of swinging the front clamp on the flexi round so the studs are pointing down, so it's sacrificial to protect the new flexi. But then I don't want to deliberately invite further impact. Hmm. Any thoughts?

That same company, that I posted, only provides front bash plate and one for centre bearing…unless I’ve missed it?!? I was contemplating one to extend over the flexi for my older ‘off road’ 2005 4x4.
Euro 4x4 also did a few ‘upgrades’ for the 169 but don’t seem to stock anything other than serviceable bits now

 

[DaveMcT]

I might be worth a call to Euro 4x4. They might have the drawings for their no longer manufactured bash plates.

The exhaust pipe drops down about 50% diameter to clear the subframe then up at least 1 diameter into the tunnel. How about running a straight pipe back from your flex front connection then just after the subframe, set it further up into the tunnel and fit the flex up there. It would be about a foot further back and you'll need to faff about with the pipe leading to the second mounting point.

(set = 45 degrees, short straight, 45 degrees to bring the line back to level.

 

[rmjbn1]

You can increase the rear ride height with a spring cush rubber between the spring and axle spring pan. The front would need a special spacer to go between top mount bearing and spring top seat. A pile of washers will not do it but its would be easy enough to engineer..

The springs on mine are probably the originals, so 19 years old now. Ride height might not be what it once was.

 

[porta]

I might be worth a call to Euro 4x4. They might have the drawings for their no longer manufactured bash plates.

The exhaust pipe drops down about 50% diameter to clear the subframe then up at least 1 diameter into the tunnel. How about running a straight pipe back from your flex front connection then just after the subframe, set it further up into the tunnel and fit the flex up there. It would be about a foot further back and you'll need to faff about with the pipe leading to the second mounting point.

(set = 45 degrees, short straight, 45 degrees to bring the line back to level.

They don’t make them, just used to sell them. I used to buy off them as, for panda 4x4 off-road accessory stuff, it was cheaper than shop4parts including delivery from France