Mine are sticking out so far that they're hitting the bottom of my rear bumper over rough terrain. Any suggestions?

 

Aside from trying to reajust them if possible, I have heard of some (including Tim) using zip-ties to somewhat lessen the exhaust from shaking around.

 

I don't know if the zip-ties will prevent the tips from bouncing up into the bumper.. but they will help them from moving left to right..
Perhaps you can put something around the rubber hangers to stop them from moving up over bumps..

but mine stick out as well abuot 1/2 inch past the bumper..

I don't have any problems with it hitting the bumper..
Could it be that the tip isn't on securely?? You might have to tighten the bolts..


That or don't drive over rought terrian..

 

Might you have pics? I want to buy the tips also but I am afraid the same thing might happen to me.

 

Corey,

i don't have any pics, but there is a post in the last couple of days of someone who does (look for the subject about 3A exhaust tips).
They really look good on the car and don't stick out far enough to make them look ugly.
I don't like 2 things about them (aside from hitting my bumper - I do have ground effects on the car), is:
1) They're so big, that you can see ours stock exhaust pipe inside of it (looks uglu cuz the pipe is twice as small)
2) our stock exhaust pipe is not straight, it's curved. so if you try and center 3A tips around it, then the exhaust pipe is not centered within the tip itself, and since you can still see it - it doesn't look good. this may not make sence now, but if you try and istall it, you'll see what I'm talking about.

good luck

 

U2,

I also have 3A tips from Tim. My impression is that unless i'm looking directly into the openings, i can't see the exhaust pipes at all. Yeah, the pipes inside arent centered in the tips but as per first observation, can't really see it unless one is looking straight in as the pipes are good enuf inside to be hidden.


I used heavy black zip ties to pull these 3A tips up higher and also tighter up, so as to avoid any shaking, vibrating, etc, as they are heavier than those stock tips. After doing this, it's so tight that they dont move up or down, left or right at all.

 

They do no center, but after a few thousand miles the carbon will make that all but impossible - no one but us "anal" types will see it anyway. I would not let that keep you from using these as they look very good.

 

simple.....cut off the excess length of the stock tip. You only need a couple of inches past the muffler for the 3A tips to clamp to.

 

what is a good tool to cut the pipe with?

 

I have to agree here. at first you could notice the smaller pipe but now its all black inside and now you cant see it.

 

A good metal hacksaw blade works just fine..... One word of caution with the 3A tips.....change out the cheap screws with stainless steel ones. The original screws will strip and you cant tighten them down worth a crap! I changed all of mine to stainless steel and they hold much much better.......

 

These look great, however, I had the same problems as others trying to get them even. I used the zip tie suggestion and it helped alot, but they are still just a bit uneven.

As far as seeing the original exhaust pipe, I can't tell now that the interior of the 3A is black from exhaust.

What does bug me is you can see the bolts. I know I'm being really picky, but what the heck!

Great suggestion to use stainless bolts Indyjenks! I'll swap those cheap ones out this weekend. I had thought about using stainless bolts, but was too anxious to put the tips on! But you've convinced me!

 

Your are not being picky IMO. The bolts bothered me enough to resist putting them on. So I took a disposable rubber glove cut right before the fingers straight. I simply use this as a mask and I sprayed the end section where the bolts are flat black(incl. the bolts ofcourse). Or use masking tape Helps hide them IMO.

And yes, use stainless bolts like Indy say's and use Loctite or whatever thread lock

Now I'm still debating my other vice, the "pipe within a pipe" cheap ricer looking stock pipe. It's quite visible when seen from a car behind with the headlights shining into them. The only solution to this is to shorten the pipe as some have said. Hmmm, would I ever have a need to put the stock tips back on?

 

Great idea about painting the end sections and using the rubber glove. I think I'll try that. Thanks!

 

Guys,

I truly believe that no other car owners are as finicky as we are here. I've friends owning bimmers, passats, who love their cars but dont notice stuff that we do here even on their cars. I mean, just like me, i bet u folks wash and polish your exhaust tips, including the visible part inside, right?? We notice these things, yet others just dont. I showed them these tips, they look at it, like it, and dont notice anything "unusual" with them, like smaller pipes inside, etc. Really, i dont believe anyone sees what we see. Another example is the Y pipe under the car that many of us here spray painted black. No one who's been behind my car even sees it.

We're unique!!