Racing Beat exhaust - Install Prep

[mualan]

I'm pretty pumped. After doing some extensive searching through the forum on the best/quiet exhaust, I decided all of the sudden that I'd finally get that exhaust upgrade I've been wanting to get for my P5. It was kind of one of those wow-I'm-really-going-to-spend-$400 moments. Anyway, so I just ordered the RB exhaust from nsnmotorsports.com (heard good things and they seemed to be the best price $375 + 33.50 shipping).

So I've already done some searches (it's probably in these forums somewhere), but are there any step-by-step tutorials on how to install a new exhaust? I know it's probably easier than opening the fridge for some people on here...

My experience with self-done P5 work has been:

- changing the oil
- rotating the tires
- painting calipers
- replacing rear brake pads
- installing a K&N typhoon CAI

I should also note that I now currently live in an apartment, and you're theoretically not supposed to work on your car (except to rotate the tires ... weird, I know). But I'm all up for some "guerilla car-work"...So I was hoping it'd be a quick job.

So should I do it myself? What tools will I need specifically?

Thanks in advance for any help, and I apologize if I missed this info in my forum searches.

-mualan

 

[nealric]

Meh I would just take it into a shop. Mineke charged me $40 to put it on and that included a reweld of one of the pipes.

I dont think it would be that hard to do yourself- but possibly not in the amount of time to satisfy the landlord.

 

[aMaff]

Deep well sockets are a must, if I'm not mistaken, all the nuts are 14mm. If you don't have em already, you can pick up a set at harbor freight for like 15 bones

Having a friend would definately be helpful.

Go to an auto parts store and pick up replacement gaskets in case the stock ones disintegrate once you take em off...if you don't need em, you can always take em back, but it'd suck to start and need them and not have them.

Be patient, don't cross thread anything.

Blue thread loc the nuts on, and actually WAIT the 20 mins (or whatever) that is says to let it sit before starting the car. I know, the temptation will be there (trust me, I KNOW....).

Don't forget to put a washer between the nut and the flange.

Um...I think that's it

 

[aMaff]

Meh I would just take it into a shop. Mineke charged me $40 to put it on and that included a reweld of one of the pipes.

yeah, but where's the fun in that?

I dont think it would be that hard to do yourself- but possibly not in the amount of time to satisfy the landlord.

wait til he's asleep / gone? (shrug)

 

[ottawaP5]

Go to an auto parts store and pick up replacement gaskets in case the stock ones disintegrate once you take em off...if you don't need em, you can always take em back, but it'd suck to start and need them and not have them.

Actually RB supplies all the gaskets needed (they did with mine anyways)

 

[aMaff]

Actually RB supplies all the gaskets needed (they did with mine anyways)

oooh, nice. Well, I got mine used...sooo....yeah

 

[mazpro]

you can do it yourself. the hardest part for me was taking out the exhaust hangers, other than that it's onlt 2 bolts to put the axle-back.

 

[registering]

you can do it yourself. the hardest part for me was taking out the exhaust hangers

I agree, I replaced it cat-back and the toughest part was getting the stupid hangers out of the rubber mounts. Other than that's it's really simple and quick.

 

[Robot Romeo]

like everyone said, you can do it yourself. its easier than chaging your oil. just get a friend to help you put it up and adjust it before you tighten everything down.

 

[Bala]

I backed up onto my oil changing ramps and I had tons of room to work. I did it solo - you can too. As for the rear hangers - dishsoap works great.

 

[SinCityMP5]

Just a little bit of WD-40 on the hangers and they come right off, install took about an hour.

 

[jamesk]

do you take the hangers off the car then take off the axleback, or do you take the axleback off the hangers while they are on the car? that is the only thing im confused about.

 

[aMaff]

leave the rubber hangars on the car. un bolt the cat back from the mid pipe, then the cat back from the axle back, and remove it, then slip the axle back out of the hangars. You'll see once you crawl under there

 

[mualan]

Thanks for all the great info, everyone! I found a poor sap (j/k, good buddy ) to help me, so once it comes in, it's install time. If it's just as easy as changing oil, then I should be cruisin to the RB growl very soon.

-mualan

 

[ottawaP5]

Thanks for all the great info, everyone! I found a poor sap (j/k, good buddy ) to help me, so once it comes in, it's install time. If it's just as easy as changing oil, then I should be cruisin to the RB growl very soon.

-mualan

Good to hear! It's a very addictive growl too

 

[aMaff]

it's almost...velvety

 

[ottawaP5]

I find the RB sounds best with the stock airbox. Intakes tend to drown it out.

 

[mualan]

Intake Installed!

Wow, that was definitely an adventure ... and we made it a lot harder than it hard to be, but in the end, it got done.

On the first night, after much hassle getting the first 3 bolts off the stock intake, the 4th one just *wouldn't* come out. Then for some reason the socket wrench kept slipping off, stripping the bolt even more ... to the point that it wasn't gripping onto anything. It turned out the the cheapo Walmart socket wrench set I bought was made from some kind of crap metal because the actual socket had a crack in it... no wonder it couldn't grip right!

So I just sat there, already late for something, thinking how stupid it was that this one bolt that got stripped was preventing me from finishing the job. And so as much as I hated to do it, I had to reattach the other bolts back on and give up ...

... but that night I decided to find out what could be done with already stripped bolts ... and found out about the IRWIN "Bolt-Grip" sockets which are specifically designed for stripped bolts! Woo hoo!

Anyway, to make a long story short, my friend and I restarted and finished the install the next day. And now I'm growling and loving it.

Two questions though ... I smell a very slight "burning" smell when I step out of the car. Is this normal break-in period stuff or do I have a potential leak? Secondly, I forgot to thread lock the bolts ... should I be worried that they'll fall out from vibration or something, or is that only in rare circumstances?

-mualan

P.S. Also, I should note that nsnmotorsports.com where I bought this Racing Beat exhaust shipped right to my apartment via UPS in just over a week (8 days). I highly recommend them if you're going for a new RB exhaust.

 

[ottawaP5]

Two questions though ... I smell a very slight "burning" smell when I step out of the car. Is this normal break-in period stuff or do I have a potential leak? Secondly, I forgot to thread lock the bolts ... should I be worried that they'll fall out from vibration or something, or is that only in rare circumstances?

Yes the burning smell is normal...it goes away in a few days of driving.

Thread Lock is not necessary - mine has been on for over 2 years now without thread lock on the bolts.

Enjoy the growl!

 

[2003newlyack]

i just put my racing beat exhaust on friday night, and i had the same problem with one of the bolts not coming off but it finally gave way. no problems with my install just the hangers are a real pain, and i hope i dont need to do that again. love that growl!