My poor loudmouth

[Wraith2097]

Okay, so I didn't really have the time to attempt installing the loudmouth catback myself. So I went to the local vip (bad move, I know) and had them install it. I didn't notice anything wrong on the way home because I was driving on the highway. As soon as I hit some back streets I noticed that it was rattling and with even slightly mild bumps I could hear a loud thump towards the rear of the car. I went back and they told me that it only had about a half inch clearance between the pipe and drive shaft. They said it was designed for a v8 and there would be little they could do. So they tried putting on new hangers and deemed it as fixed. I just took it home now and although the rattling is gone, I can still hear the pipe hitting the bottom of the car on bumps. This whole ordeal cost me nearly 500 bucks and I'm afraid that either the car or exhaust will be damaged if this keeps up. I know if I bring it back to them they won't do anything because its aftermarket. Should I bring it to another place? And if so, what do I say to them and what will they have to do?

Also, has anyone every seen the loudmouth on a firebird? Mine looks like the tips are sticking too far out, is this common?

[99v6cam]

The pipes sticking to far out may have to do with them welding the exhaust to the s-pipe. With the bumping, theres a metel piece that goes over the PHR that mine used to hit when I went over bumps. At first I found random pieces of thick rubber to put in there but later I just went to and exhaust shop to get it fixed.

[01MaroIL]

mine makes that sound too. i assumed it was something near the phr but i have yet to do anything about it. my tips however dont stick out too far, but actually dont stick out far enough. Tips are hidden a little bit.

[99v6cam]

As far as the tips are concerned you can just cut off a little of the pipe that you bolt the tips onto then put the tips back on.

[Alt space n]

I have an occasional rattle like dat-dat-dat-dat-dat-dat-dat-dat-dat quite quickly but if I move a tad it goes away and doesn't reoccur. Could have been the heatshield on my cat rattling, but Jiffy Lube fixed that today when they tried to drive it over the pit and ripped the heat shield clean off.

[Wraith2097]

Yikes, sorry about your cat. The tips do look a little odd, and as soon as I can grab something to shorten the pipe a little I'll do that myself. As for that sound. I'll admit they did make it slightly better than before. You know the regular thump you'll hear when you go over bumps? The best way I can describe it is that it sounds like that but much sharper. I listened a little more and it sounds like its from the rear right side. But I might be hearing things. Could this be doing any damage? Is the repair an expensive one? Thanks for the input guys.

[Alt space n]

I don't thump anymore cause the heatshield is off so I'm fairly "level" on the bottom. Only thing that scrapes now is the airdam.

[Yaba3800]

damn airdam....never go to jiffy lube they always try to jew you out of stuff that doesnt really need to be fixed

[Alt space n]

They don't jew me when I know the mechanic working on my car. If I don't know them personally but its a place I take my car to regularly they take good care of me. Didn't cost me anything to flush my transmission fluid, I think they charge 80 bucks for that.

[Wraith2097]

I regret not taking it to my mechanic. I just couldn't afford to leave it with him for several days. I learned from that mistake but at a fair expense. After driving it more I noticed that its doing a bit better, but sharp bumps still result in a loud thump towards the rear right side. I want to just let this go, but I'm getting the feeling that with every hard bump I will be doing more and more damage. If I bring it to my regular mechanic, what should I ask him to do? Apparently last time they changed some hangers.

[99v6cam]

Tell him what its doing and where you think it's hitting, I figure a hanger should do the trick if its hitting the same place mine used to bc thats what fixed mine.

[Red]

So did you get it taken care of?

mine is doing that right now as well, i had it installed at midas. Please tell me you didnt really pay 500 bucks just for the install?

I got mine fully installed with sensors welded in and pipes cut for resonater for 170 and change. I am going to take it back when i get a chance and they will fix it. Maybe another hanger or two...

[99V6Camaro]

Hmm judging by you saying its the rear right side it most likely is a hanger issue. The hanger the kit includes isnt usable so you shop probably didnt put anything there.

[casketcrewchick]

Mine hits near the car (thanks to my neighbor bringing it up more but only on big bumps) and it hits the panhard bar... I had a shop charge me 100 bucks to add a hanger (which was more like they reused a piece i had extra on me and they bashed the pipe in and it still hits)... so i think i might be able to bend it more. lol

Anyways my right tip sticks out a lot further than the right. I might get this other shop to maybe chop down the I pipe a little since my cat is about an inch further back than it should be thanks to my neighbor which he shoulda just cut it off knowing it was too far back to shorten it.

[Wraith2097]

I didn't pay 500 for the install. Thats how much I roughly paid for the exhaust and the install together. I still have yet to get the problem fixed. I can still hear the pipes slamming into something on the rear right going over hard bumps. I also noticed something new the other day. I filled my car with bags of clothes to go get the laundry done. I noticed that with the car weighed down a little bit the pipes keep hitting on every tiny bump. I have a cross country move coming up where I'll have to pack the car with things, I'm really not looking forward to that and I'm afraid I'll damage something. I was actually thinking of buying the kit with the hangers and adapter as I failed to buy that the first time around. I assumed that since they are designed for it then it would fix the problem. I'm guessing that now it won't. It was mentioned earlier that a piece of rubber could be jammed in place for a temp fix. Wouldn't the rubber burn? And how in the world would you get it to stay? I gotta do something soon though, I'm on a tight budget and can't afford new pipes.