Sab

I mounted my RMB that I purchased from a fellow list member today. It seemed as a easy and quick procedure, but after it was all said and done, one of the connections is leaking.
I took the clamp off three times, I rmoved the doughnut , cleaned it turned it around, made sure it's seated well, used another clamp...
It's leaking, I can hear it and I can feel the air coming out of it.
What could be wrong? Any ideas how I can get it to fit?

worf928

Do you have the bolt on the clamp tighted to the point where the clamp is almost 'all-the-way' tight?

Sab

I was scared that it would snap if I tighten it anyore, but I will try to give it some more. No, the clamp still has a good gap, but seems tight.
Thanks Sab.

Garth S

Just check the fit of the donut seal in the 'bells' prior to further tightening. If that's OK, then with the clamps loose, wiggle the piece into correct alignment prior to tightening. It should not take much force to seal - after all, there is no back pressure here.

DR

Sab,

Check to make sure the "flared" ends of that RMB are perfectly round. I have seen some get bent slightly in shipping and can cause small leaks like you describe.

Sab

Thanks, I tried it again and applied some pressure on the pipe to make sure the "doughnut" is seated properly before tightening the clamp and it looks like it worked.
Inspecting the whole exhaust system yesterday, it seems as if the clamps in front of the catalytic converter are leaking a bit too. Any suggestions to get those perfectly?
Thanks,
Sab.

Pizza

Try tightning the 3 bolts. If that doesn't work you might need some new gaskets.

Sab

Not the one mounting up to the headers, but one further back the clamps mounting right to the CAT's (probably behind the CAT's, don't remmebr now). The pipes seem to be a bit slotted to make for some sort of a compression fitting. I remember that that was always a problem spot on my old S4 after mounting the test pipes... But in tis case it has all the original plumming and is defenitely leaking a bit.

Ketchmi

There are some "strap clamps" that we use which seal the junction behind the cats very well. You should be able to find them at a local semi service facility or maybe a performance shop. They are stainless steel and about 3" wide with a pinch clamp using two bolts. In extreme cases, we wrap the junction in fiberglass then put the clamp around that. They are strong as hell and work very well without a failure yet. he one pictured below is a 3", the only one I had available at the house but they do make them in 2.25" and 2.5" also.

Sab

Great Dave, that is exactly what I need. On my other car a muffler shop ended up welding that section and it has been a real PITA ever since to take this huge section of the muffler off. The smallest exhaust leak just sounds like sh*t on our cars. Do you sell them as well?
Thanks,
Sab.

Ketchmi

Yup, sure do in fact they will be included with our X-over's.

DR

> You should be able to find them at a local semi service facility or maybe a performance shop.

Also, every Napa I have been has those in stock or can have the correct sized one in a day. Look in the "Big truck" exhaust section.

blau928

Sebastian,

Good luck with the RMB..!

Sab

Thanks, I got it mounted perfect now and no more leaks. I find it a bit on the loud side, but was told from a friend that he had the same initial impression but then loved it. It definetely sounds great, just a bit loud. But I guess at cruising speed it is pretty quiet.
Thanks and regards,
Sab.

blau928

Hi Sebastian,

I think you'll get used to it in a day or 2... At cruise it is pretty quiet..!

Cheers,