Can Corsa Torque Clamps hold?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Conway AR
Can Corsa Torque Clamps hold?
After 4 hours of fiddling with the mufler alignment with some Corsa Touring muflers I got close enough to get by. I torque the clamps down to spec, and as best I can tell, they won't hold. The muflers still move around by hand some. I do not see how they are going to hold on the road. I know tack welding is an option.
2 questions:
1. Is there a trick to make the clamps hold better?
2. Does anyone know a good muffler shop to do the alignment and tack weld in central Arkansas? (Little Rock, Conway region).
2 questions:
1. Is there a trick to make the clamps hold better?
2. Does anyone know a good muffler shop to do the alignment and tack weld in central Arkansas? (Little Rock, Conway region).
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,370
Likes: 8
Just installed my Corsa a week back. I too had that problem. I found if I torqued the clamp to the specified lbs, the clamps were too loose and wouldn't hold tightly. So I went ahead and tighten the clamps so they were tight (no movements of the mufflers) and torqued to spec then. So far no problems. I guess the main thing is not to overly tighten and crush the pipes. My thoughts .... for what's worth.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,795
Likes: 2
From: Noblesville Indiana
CI 7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
One side of my Corsas always rotated up so I took it to Monro muffler and had them weld it in place. $20 and 9 months later, they haven't moved.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: Goose Creek SC
I agree the Corsa clamps will not hold. The right bank of my exhaust actually fell off twice before I had them welded in place. The Corvette shop that did the work for me said a lot of people have trouble with Corsa exhausts staying lined up right.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,458
Likes: 105
From: Northville Michigan
Frank,
Did you apply a good quality copper-based anti-seize compound to the threads of the clamps before you torqued them?
If not, I suggest that you start over. The anti-seize compound will allow you to apply more tension in the joint at the same torque.
Good luck wity your decision.
Did you apply a good quality copper-based anti-seize compound to the threads of the clamps before you torqued them?
If not, I suggest that you start over. The anti-seize compound will allow you to apply more tension in the joint at the same torque.
Good luck wity your decision.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,225
Likes: 0
From: Currently living in and loving... Chico, CA
Originally Posted by faaty go
Just installed my Corsa a week back. I too had that problem. I found if I torqued the clamp to the specified lbs, the clamps were too loose and wouldn't hold tightly. So I went ahead and tighten the clamps so they were tight (no movements of the mufflers) and torqued to spec then. So far no problems. I guess the main thing is not to overly tighten and crush the pipes. My thoughts .... for what's worth.
Good to read that you went with the Corsas; hope the sound is what you were looking for.
The guys who did my install told me to run them around until they shifted, then bring them back in for realignment. So far (8 months), there has been none, so I think I'll take it in and have them tack it. Sounds like you took the right approach in your installation.
I'll be lookin' for ya around town; maybe we can do a little "dual Indy run" for the local populus and show 'em some GOOD sounds!
Safe and happy new year!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I purchased some VERY cool heavy duty stainless clamps for my Stainlesworks system. The clamps that came with the systen sucked and like you said would NOT hold very well. I will attach a digital photo of the clamp to this post when I get home from work!
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
I put the anti-seize and cranked the unholy hell out of them. Then one fell off, got jammed under a Mustang, and I had to chase the girl down to get it back.
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Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
From: South Park (Pittsburgh) PA
Originally Posted by Voide3
After 4 hours of fiddling with the mufler alignment with some Corsa Touring muflers I got close enough to get by. I torque the clamps down to spec, and as best I can tell, they won't hold. The muflers still move around by hand some. I do not see how they are going to hold on the road. I know tack welding is an option.
2 questions:
1. Is there a trick to make the clamps hold better?
2. Does anyone know a good muffler shop to do the alignment and tack weld in central Arkansas? (Little Rock, Conway region).
2 questions:
1. Is there a trick to make the clamps hold better?
2. Does anyone know a good muffler shop to do the alignment and tack weld in central Arkansas? (Little Rock, Conway region).
Bob
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
From: South Park (Pittsburgh) PA
Originally Posted by fat bob
Voide3, I just installed two Corsa systems. Had the same problem on the first system and called Corsa. Spoke to Paul. I explained that I had used these same clamps on many Harleys. He told me to tighten them "as tight as I needed to" to stop the muffler from moving. Also something that I learned while working, the mufflers tend to move out of the pipe and unless you have them in the pipe all the way, they will not tighten up. After doing the above, no problem. After a couple of heat cycles, retighten. In my opinion, the torque spec is too light. There is a spacer in the clamp (same as the Harley) to prevent damage to the pipes. I hope this helps you. I worked for me.
Bob
Bob
They have not moved since. See the post by "faaty go" above.
Bob
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
I had mine installed for 6 months with no problem then one day 1 of the tips started to sag and the clamp wouldn't tighten up so I had them tacked in place, I have had no problems since 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 124
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From: Conway AR
Originally Posted by fat bob
Voide3, I read this thread again and just didn't want you to have to weld your system if you did not have to. I was convinced, as you are, that the clamps would not hold with their setting and this is true in most cases. Before you weld, I would suggest calling them to verify the information that I gave you above. I tightened them up the old fashioned way until the mufflers would not move as they told me to do.
They have not moved since. See the post by "faaty go" above.
Bob
They have not moved since. See the post by "faaty go" above.
Bob
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 128
Likes: 1
From: Cape Coral FL
The clamps are junk!!! BPP broke two clamps trying to tighten them down tight enough to keep the tips in place, Even after that, the drivers side fell off on my way home from Breathless. I immediatly went to my local muffler shop and had them welded
BPP broke two clamps trying to tighten them down tight enough to keep the tips in place, Even after that, the drivers side fell off on my way home from Breathless. I immediatly went to my local muffler shop and had them welded
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 0
From: Rowayton Ct.
I've had the same problem with my Indy's. After almost losing the left muffler because of a loose clamp, I had them tack welded. For some reason, they still seem to have flexed, maybe because of engine torque. Last summer, at Corvettes at Carlisle, I stood behind the car during the rev salute to Chip Miller. My pipes, then still stock, and everyone elses, were twisting, I think left up, right down.
So I'm going to get the tack welds ground off and try again with the clamps, so I can adjust the pipes from time to time to keep them even.
Anyone else have this issue?
hhntr111
So I'm going to get the tack welds ground off and try again with the clamps, so I can adjust the pipes from time to time to keep them even.
Anyone else have this issue?
hhntr111
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
From: South Park (Pittsburgh) PA
Originally Posted by Voide3
Thanks Bob. Before I read your post I called Corsa. I just happened to get Paul. I have applied more torque to the clamps. That seems to be working. I heated up and cooled down before adding torque. I will check and see how it does periodically.
Glad it worked out and maybe the discussion will help others.
Bob
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
I purchased some VERY cool heavy duty stainless clamps for my Stainlesworks system. The clamps that came with the systen sucked and like you said would NOT hold very well. I will attach a digital photo of the clamp to this post when I get home from work!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 19
From: ME
Anyone here have these problems with the borla stinger system? I just bought the stinger kit, and plan to install it next weekend, I thought the clamps that the stingers come with look plenty sufficient for holding. Anyone?
