RKSPORT HEADERS LEAK! IM FINALLY TAKING ACTION

[pgriffith]

I have had my headers for a while with slight leaks on the y pipe flanges. Well Its time for me to fix it the right way. Every exhaust shop I visited said they wouldnt weld the header to the Y pipe. So Instead I decided to pull off my headers then I am going to sandblast the collector so it has no ceramic coating. And either cut and weld new flanges or weld material to the current flanges so they are thicker, stronger and wont warp. Either way they will not leak after tommarow. I will keep you all posted.

[MrCoffee]

if you're gonna do all that work, why dont you just weld the Y pipe on yourself? I mean, its gotta be easier :/

[pgriffith]

I would but theres no room. Theres no way I can fit a welder up there with them on the car and there is no way im getting them back on if I weld them up before I put them on. I dont see how people can sell a product that has such poor craftsmanship. If I could do it all over again I would have bought CIA

[12secondv6]

I had my mienekee shop do mine [img]smile.gif[/img]
He took the y pipe down from header to cat.
The 2 bolt flanges on the y pipe were cut off.
He took slightly larger diameter pipe 6 inches long and welded it straight to the header flange.
He then made me a y pipe from scratch.
Viola, no more leaks [img]smile.gif[/img]
Best of luck with the cutting and welding
Get us some pics if you can

[pgriffith]

Did you guys have any problems with getting a good weld on the header? Everyone says the ceramic coating wont weld. So I have decided to sandblast the coating off the ends of the hedder. But is that necassary?

[Tiago]

funny I run mine behind a turbo and I dont' have leaks!

I just use metal felpro gaskets, maybe you are tightening them too much??

[black98V6]

this is the way I'd handle it if you want to go to a 3 bolt collector..

1. take cutoff tool and cut off the collector flange right where it joins the collector pipe, do the same where it meets the Y pipe..

2. once you do this you have something to take a grinder to and grind off that coating.. it can't be that thick.. you could proably do it with a dremmel quite easily

3. buy some 3 bolt flanges and weld em on.. viola.. rk sports with 3 bolt flanges...
you loose a little of the ceramic coating but so what..

[nino]

i cant believe you bought them and didnt expect them to leak. everybody knows rks leak. you didnt get the memo???? j/k
but really i have always known that they suck- i mean - leak.
best of luck though. if it makes you feel better i will tell ya i am having a hell of a time with my cias. i am now on the fourth gasket!

[pgriffith]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by nino:
i cant believe you bought them and didnt expect them to leak. everybody knows rks leak. you didnt get the memo???? j/k
but really i have always known that they suck- i mean - leak.
best of luck though. if it makes you feel better i will tell ya i am having a hell of a time with my cias. i am now on the fourth gasket!<hr></blockquote>

Yes I knew they would leak. I thought it was easier to get them fixed. But it seems nobody wants to do work on these headers because all the exhaust shops are intimidated by the ceramic coating. I know they suck. I cant even believe a manufacturer can sell such a ****ty product.


UPDATE: RK headers are currently at the exhaust shop getting some 3 bolt flanges welded on. He says he will grind off the coating at the bottom by the flange so he can get a good weld. He wants me to Bolt the headers up and drive it down there and he will then fit the Y pipe I have or make me a new one.

Will it hurt my car to drive it streight out of the header?

[pgriffith]

Got the headers back. nice 3 bolt flanges. Fit great look good. Now the car wont start. Cant figure out where the plug wires go. Read General tech and help please.

[Only4U]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by pgriffith:
Will it hurt my car to drive it streight out of the header?<hr></blockquote>

nope, but it WILL sound like crap! :D

[SLOWBRAEATER]

Those rk sport headers are weird, i first had them put on by a professional and they didnt leak once, i then took them off and put them back on and they all of a sudden leaked, guess they were warped, i mean a potato chip is probably thicker than they were

[shortdog273]

I can't believe RKSport hasn't done anything to try and solve the leak problem! I guess as long as consumers continue buying their crap, they can care less..

[willow140]

How much did it cost to get the headers installed professionally?