Broken downpipe mount

[monkeymsp]

So I traveled to see my family for Thansgiving and on the way home I went over a speed bump and heard a realy loud creaking/banging noise. I was going fairly slow when I went over the bump. Since I was still close to my brothers house I turned around and went back. I thought at first it sounded like there was some broken suspension. It was like 9pm and dark so I pulled it in the garage and jacked it up and spent about 30minutes looking for broken suspension or mounts or something that could make the sound. I found no broken susp. It turns out that the sound was coming from a broken mount for the downpipe. (see pics) Upon further inspection it appears that there is a bolt missing fromt the top of the downpipe / bottom of s-pipe area. I am thinking that the missing bolt caused the DP bracket to have too much stress and so it broke. What I am afraid of is that the turbo may have sustained damage bacause all stresses are now being absorbed by the turbo. Has this happened to anyone else? I searched but no luck. BTW the car is bone stock save a kartboy shifter bushing. (and I don't think that caused this)

 

[biochembruin]

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80300

has happened before, you should probably be ok. maybe look into some exhaust hangers to help support the exhaust more

 

[Matthew]

exahust shop can weld hangars for like 20 bucks, but i see your point...you shouldnt have to hav ethis s*** happen.

 

[monkeymsp]

biochembruin - You are the master searcher. Thanks for the link.

Is everyone missing the bolt from the bracket in the fist pic? BTW that pic was takeen directly up underneath the front of the car in the center where the turbo is. It looks to me that mine never had that bolt.

 

[jus10 msp]

mine is off the car and i have no problems

thanks justin h

 

[Ljspeed]

Yep me too, dont need that noisy weak bracket and have not encountered any problems.

 

[biochembruin]

biochembruin - You are the master searcher. Thanks for the link.

no problem.

 

[monkeymsp]

Update.

I brought the car into the dealer and they have ordered the part and are replacing it under warranty. Part should be here in a few weeks. They concurred it is fine to drive as is.

 

[biochembruin]

good excuse to get a downpipe!

 

[Dr.Sound]

u dont need that thing
it's like a bracket for the heatshield, not the downpipe itself.

 

[eddiejoe56]

u dont need that thing
it's like a bracket for the heatshield, not the downpipe itself.

It does support the J-pipe portion. My was cracked but I only learned of it when I attempted to take it off, it fell off in pieces after removing the bolts. It most likely takes much of the stress from the engine torquing under accelleration with the flexible OEM motor mounts.

Car can be run without this bracket, but then the torquing stress will be transferred to the next most rigid down pipe support, which might be the upper one on the S-pipe, where monkeymsp was missing bolt.

Recommend ARW mounts, but go for the lower durometer 78's to retain some minimum flexibility, but still limit motor movement and thus reduce stress on exhaust piping.