Muffler removal & moving the car
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: London
Muffler removal & moving the car
Due to all your (incredibly) complimentary feedback I have been on the phone to Gert about getting some RSR mufflers for the TT...
He has no mufflers in stock so I am going to take mine off and send them to him. BUT a couple of quick questions:
I've read Rob Sun's DIY piece on removal but I am no expert (this would be the first piece of work on my car) and I don't want to go stripping heads 'n' threads. How easy is it to take them off and how high do you need to get the car in the air to work effectively?
Finally, can the car be moved 1/2 mile without any mufflers (I can imagine the sound will be unbelievable, if a little offensive) without doing any damage to the turbos etc.? This is in order to get it back to my garage from the workshop.
Thanks for your advice. W
He has no mufflers in stock so I am going to take mine off and send them to him. BUT a couple of quick questions:
I've read Rob Sun's DIY piece on removal but I am no expert (this would be the first piece of work on my car) and I don't want to go stripping heads 'n' threads. How easy is it to take them off and how high do you need to get the car in the air to work effectively?
Finally, can the car be moved 1/2 mile without any mufflers (I can imagine the sound will be unbelievable, if a little offensive) without doing any damage to the turbos etc.? This is in order to get it back to my garage from the workshop.
Thanks for your advice. W
Pro
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 631
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From: Cranleigh,England
Will,
I'm not sure for a TT, but the standard exhausts are held togetherwith a couple of clamps.
On my 95 car I couldn't undo one of the clamp bolts, so I cut it and replaced it.
AFN wanted 10 quid for just the one bolt, with its nuts & washers
Personally I wouldn't drive it with no exhausts on. I would ensure the bolts can be freed at the workshop, and then drive it home & remove them in the garage.
That's my thoughts anyway.
Cheers,
John. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
I'm not sure for a TT, but the standard exhausts are held togetherwith a couple of clamps.
On my 95 car I couldn't undo one of the clamp bolts, so I cut it and replaced it.
AFN wanted 10 quid for just the one bolt, with its nuts & washers
Personally I wouldn't drive it with no exhausts on. I would ensure the bolts can be freed at the workshop, and then drive it home & remove them in the garage.
That's my thoughts anyway.
Cheers,
John. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
King of Cool
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From: Miami Beach, FL
Will,
I agree with John,
I don't have TT either but I just removed my mufflers (replaced them with Supercups) and I didn't even jack the car up.
I drove rear wheels on a speedhump (inside my buildings garage) and that was enough for me to get them out (end new ones back in).
I was able to open all the bolts but I'd also suggest to get new bolts before you start and replace them.
If it was non turbo, you can drive that half mile and I'm thinking that you can do it with the Turbo too, but I'm no expert so I really don't know this.
I'm just thinking, for example old Formula cars, they had turbo and exhaust was pretty much straight pipes. But since the job is quite easy, like John said, free them up & then remove at your garage if you don't feel safe to drive it.
I agree with John,
I don't have TT either but I just removed my mufflers (replaced them with Supercups) and I didn't even jack the car up.
I drove rear wheels on a speedhump (inside my buildings garage) and that was enough for me to get them out (end new ones back in).
I was able to open all the bolts but I'd also suggest to get new bolts before you start and replace them.
If it was non turbo, you can drive that half mile and I'm thinking that you can do it with the Turbo too, but I'm no expert so I really don't know this.
I'm just thinking, for example old Formula cars, they had turbo and exhaust was pretty much straight pipes. But since the job is quite easy, like John said, free them up & then remove at your garage if you don't feel safe to drive it.
Addict
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From: Houston, Tx
there are two factors: noise & heat.
The noise on a NA motor, with catalytic converter in place, is nowhere near as loud as I'd expected. I drove my 74 Camaro with straight headers down to the muffler shop to get new pipes welded on; THAT was loud! With the turbo, it's going to be even quieter.
Heat's the other concern; as long as you don't leave it idling for 10 minutes, I wouldn't worry too much there, but am willing to be overruled by someone else... ?
The noise on a NA motor, with catalytic converter in place, is nowhere near as loud as I'd expected. I drove my 74 Camaro with straight headers down to the muffler shop to get new pipes welded on; THAT was loud! With the turbo, it's going to be even quieter.
Heat's the other concern; as long as you don't leave it idling for 10 minutes, I wouldn't worry too much there, but am willing to be overruled by someone else... ?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
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I would suggest that you not drive any distance without mufflers. If you are concerned about removing bolts, do what John suggested, have the bolts freed in the shop, then finish the job at home. The reason is the outlet of the cats points right at the lower rear quarter panel. You’re going to be blowing very hot exhaust right on a painted plastic panel. You could melt the paint, or worse, melt the plastic panel. I’m not positive that this would occur, I just wouldn’t take the risk.
Tom
'95 993
Tom
'95 993
Passed On
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
My thoughts:
Would you damage the turbos or engine for a 1/2 mile leisurely, very easy (minimal gas) drive w/o mufflers? Severely doubt it.
Would you damage the body at all? Very possibly, as tom_993 mentions. If my NA 993 is representative, the muffler inlet is well inside the body. So, you could melt/burn some body parts or paint with exhaust exiting at muffler entrance point.
John W. has a good idea; loosen the clamps at the shop, then drive home and remove them after the engine has cooled. You'll get your hands and clothes dirty when you crawl underneath to remove the mufflers but you'll save your car.
Would you damage the turbos or engine for a 1/2 mile leisurely, very easy (minimal gas) drive w/o mufflers? Severely doubt it.
Would you damage the body at all? Very possibly, as tom_993 mentions. If my NA 993 is representative, the muffler inlet is well inside the body. So, you could melt/burn some body parts or paint with exhaust exiting at muffler entrance point.
John W. has a good idea; loosen the clamps at the shop, then drive home and remove them after the engine has cooled. You'll get your hands and clothes dirty when you crawl underneath to remove the mufflers but you'll save your car.
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Passed On
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Getting those clamps (ones joining muffler to exhaust pipes) off of the pipes and onto the new ones is a royal PITA. There's a center metal "donut" spacer between the pipes, and you really have to pry the clamp up over it. Naturally, you have no room to work.
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From: Lake Tahoe, CA
[quote]Originally posted by Allen:
<strong>So it sounds like the removal of the stock mufflers and replacement with RSRs is a pretty easy task...except for possibly seized clamp bolts...most agree?</strong><hr></blockquote>
I have modest mechanical ability and it was a very straightforward job for me simply following the instructions on Robin's site. Give yourself a couple of hours on a weekend and have fun. I echo Kim's comment about the snap ring pliers...as suggested by Robin a good pair is a must.
<strong>So it sounds like the removal of the stock mufflers and replacement with RSRs is a pretty easy task...except for possibly seized clamp bolts...most agree?</strong><hr></blockquote>
I have modest mechanical ability and it was a very straightforward job for me simply following the instructions on Robin's site. Give yourself a couple of hours on a weekend and have fun. I echo Kim's comment about the snap ring pliers...as suggested by Robin a good pair is a must.
Haiku Grasshoppa
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Can I Drove Your Car?
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Can I Drove Your Car?
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From: Grants Pass, OR
Well, geez, you guys make me feel like Superman, 'cause I just spread that clamp with my fingers. It wasn't all that hard at all.
Maybe some are different? I surely wouldn't buy a special tool just for that...
Maybe some are different? I surely wouldn't buy a special tool just for that...