Thermal R&D exhaust keeps coming loose

[Dpro]

I

Took the car to St Louis, little over 600 miles round trip. Longest drive I've done with it, usually take my wife's car on trips. Encountered some horrible roads and a large piece of a semi tire, which hit the thermal crossbrace.

Exhaust is holding up well. I figured if it was going to come loose again it would have happened on this trip.

Couple things I learned, stock suspension is awful on long trips. Also the recaro seats are great but I need more up angle under my legs, my right leg was killing me. I'm thinking of adding spacers to the front seat bolts to get a little more angle.

Interesting how tall are you? Also how long are your legs? My experience witht the Recaros was I wanted to space them down a bit in front . Though I would like to drop the seating position down a inch or two overall as compared to sitting in my Focus I do sit higher in the ST.
Back on the topic have not had any problems with my Thermal so far., as far bolts loosening. We did use my stock hangers as my car just hit the 1k Mark mileage wise and my pipes are close to the underside of the bumper cover.

 

[TDavis]

I'm 6'3" and drove 24 hours to Long Island, NY and was perfectly fine besides my butt being sore but I blame that on my boney butt.

 

[TyphoonFiST]

I'm 5'10 drove from Mpls to key west Florida in the FiST...boney but here also....never thought they would be as comfortable as they were

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[DangerMouse]

I

Interesting how tall are you? Also how long are your legs? My experience witht the Recaros was I wanted to space them down a bit in front . Though I would like to drop the seating position down a inch or two overall as compared to sitting in my Focus I do sit higher in the ST.
Back on the topic have not had any problems with my Thermal so far., as far bolts loosening. We did use my stock hangers as my car just hit the 1k Mark mileage wise and my pipes are close to the underside of the bumper cover.

I'm only 5'10" but longer legs and shorter torso.

I'm getting old and need the support under my legs.

I do wish there was a way to lower the seats but not really possible.

I put 3/4" aluminum spacers and long bolts in my scion xb on the seats, to lift the front up and it made a huge difference.

I'm thinking of doing 1/2" on just the driver side seat on the fiesta.

 

[DangerMouse]

Hahaha bony butt club here too. I also have a right knee injury and that could be why my leg was cramping.

The muscles could be over working. I just couldn't get comfortable.

 

[Dpro]

I'm only 5'10" but longer legs and shorter torso.

I'm getting old and need the support under my legs.

I do wish there was a way to lower the seats but not really possible.

I put 3/4" aluminum spacers and long bolts in my scion xb on the seats, to lift the front up and it made a huge difference.

I'm thinking of doing 1/2" on just the driver side seat on the fiesta.

Ya I am shorter more F1 driver sized at 5’7” my problem with the Recaros was the raised my legs up more at the front causing a lean back effect. Otherwise I love them for the fit and do feel they make the interior more sporty and less econobox.

I looked at stock seat bases vs the Recaros and figured out the Recaros have around a inch and a half raise at the front part of the mount bracket. Which is partially responsible for people feeling like the Recaros sitting you higher than the base seats.

This actually could be trimmed down as its literally a 2-2.5 inch piece of sheet metal on each side that could be sectioned down and inch or so.

The rest is the fact that even the base seats position a person higher in the car than most Sports cars and even Focuses. That is in part due to the platform being based on a econobox and the actually floor mounting positions are raised up off floorpan by close to two inches.

If one wanted to go all custom you could size down the floorpan mount position to place seats lower. Its the kind of thing Raamaudio has mentioned doing in other cars and could be done in ours if one is handy with a welder.

 

[DangerMouse]

Update: it came loose again, I tightened it up on 10/7/18, made it almost 3 months. Time to figure out a more permanent solution.

 

[koozy]

It's an unfortunate reality of slip-fits. You really have to crank and crush down on the pipes, use exhaust paste sealant, tack-weld, etc.
Any of those solutions will probably pose difficulties when trying to remove the system later.

 

[TDavis]

Update: it came loose again, I tightened it up on 10/7/18, made it almost 3 months. Time to figure out a more permanent solution.

How tight did you crank it down? When it first slipped off on me I cranked it down pretty good, without being too overbearing, and so far its been fine and hasn't moved. I got a paint marker and put lines on each side of the slip clamp to make sure it wasn't moving in any direction and so far it hasn't budged.

 

[TyphoonFiST]

How tight did you crank it down? When it first slipped off on me I cranked it down pretty good, without being too overbearing, and so far its been fine and hasn't moved. I got a paint marker and put lines on each side of the slip clamp to make sure it wasn't moving in any direction and so far it hasn't budged.

I'm gonna climb under the old poop box tomorrow I think...grab some blue loctite and let it rip.

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[DangerMouse]

How tight did you crank it down? When it first slipped off on me I cranked it down pretty good, without being too overbearing, and so far its been fine and hasn't moved. I got a paint marker and put lines on each side of the slip clamp to make sure it wasn't moving in any direction and so far it hasn't budged.

Didn't use a torque wrench. Can't find a decent one I can afford. But I used a 24" breaker ratchet deal and really gave it my all. I am going to probably tack weld it. I want vband but it will be costly. $150 for 2 vibrant vband clamps plus whatever it costs to have them put on. It's too bad cause I love the exhaust, it's perfect but I'm considering going with something else too.

 

[TyphoonFiST]

I took the time to Write Thermal R& D to enquire of a recommendation of a torque spec or use of a thread locker on the clamps. I will keep you all posted when I hear back from Thermal.

 

[dmb]

are you saying the nut and bolts come loose? and you didn't use a lock washer or nut? or if the clamp worked its way loose? try some exhaust sealant around the whole clamp then let it set overnight. Cat exhaust sealant is the best p/n 2p2333 but at $140 a can? i'd try the cheepie auto zone stuff. if for some reason you didn't use a lock washer try that too. Good Luck Dennis

 

[DangerMouse]

are you saying the nut and bolts come loose? and you didn't use a lock washer or nut? or if the clamp worked its way loose? try some exhaust sealant around the whole clamp then let it set overnight. Cat exhaust sealant is the best p/n 2p2333 but at $140 a can? i'd try the cheepie auto zone stuff. if for some reason you didn't use a lock washer try that too. Good Luck Dennis

I haven't had time to get under it. I just know it's getting louder and the exhaust tips are sticking out more than normal. I'm calling a couple shops tomorrow to see about adding vband clamps. If it's crazy expensive I'm going to tack weld the clamps on and double nut or lock washers to be safe. Thanks for the help.

 

[TDavis]

Didn't use a torque wrench. Can't find a decent one I can afford. But I used a 24" breaker ratchet deal and really gave it my all. I am going to probably tack weld it. I want vband but it will be costly. $150 for 2 vibrant vband clamps plus whatever it costs to have them put on. It's too bad cause I love the exhaust, it's perfect but I'm considering going with something else too.

Ah, I see. Yeah I used my Ingersol Rand 1/2" drive cordless impact to snug them up. It definitely helps.

 

[DangerMouse]

Ah, I see. Yeah I used my Ingersol Rand 1/2" drive cordless impact to snug them up. It definitely helps.

I use a corded 1/2" Milwaukee impact and finished up with the 24" bar. But I don't know how much it's helped since I keep having issues.

 

[apex1]

Would it work to slide the clamp out of the way and drill a small hole through both pipes at the joint and pop in a steel rivet, then reclamp over it?

 

[KnockOff]

Would it work to slide the clamp out of the way and drill a small hole through both pipes at the joint and pop in a steel rivet, then reclamp over it?

If it worked at least it could be drilled out.

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[KnockOff]

My sheet metal shims are still working. Could give them a try.

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[apex1]

If it worked at least it could be drilled out.

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Precisely. In about 2 seconds.