LT Headers: Slip joint or ball joint???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 959
Likes: 3
From: Hartford CT
LT Headers: Slip joint or ball joint???
I do not want this to be a brand war. Just a discussion of LT header collector joints.
I have experience with the ball joint...They seem to seal effectively and come apart easily. They ball can be flattened if over torqued, but not too many other drawbacks. As far as power I am not sure if there is any difference.
For those with experience with slip joints, do they seal well? Can they come apart and be reinstalled easilly?
Which joint do you like better and why?
I have experience with the ball joint...They seem to seal effectively and come apart easily. They ball can be flattened if over torqued, but not too many other drawbacks. As far as power I am not sure if there is any difference.
For those with experience with slip joints, do they seal well? Can they come apart and be reinstalled easilly?
Which joint do you like better and why?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,972
Likes: 47
From: NCM Lifetime#2195 Bulverde, Texas 78163
St. Jude Donor '13
Ball and socket are more user friendly for servicing down the road. I have used both many time. It's a pain with LG's, But easy with AR's. If you are going to install and forget then it does not matter which ones you use. Both will seal fine.
Platinum Supporting Dealership
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 28
From: Houston Tx
both seal well, the ball joint is just alot easier to work with. slip joints usally require a few choice words to install and especially remove.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 959
Likes: 3
From: Hartford CT
Yes, looking at the design the slip joint looks slightly more difficult to assemble and way more difficult to disassemble.
If generally speaking thats the case, than what is the advantage to using the slip joint?
If generally speaking thats the case, than what is the advantage to using the slip joint?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 959
Likes: 3
From: Hartford CT
Yeah I can see that.
But what about power? Not being able to hold all the different types and compare them, it seems the slip fit might offer a smoother transition from pipe to pipe. The ball fit seems like it is designed around flexability. The taper of the ball or the gap at the socket may effect gas flow, right? Similar to comparing the factory air bellows to a straight silicone coupler.
Any thoughts?
But what about power? Not being able to hold all the different types and compare them, it seems the slip fit might offer a smoother transition from pipe to pipe. The ball fit seems like it is designed around flexability. The taper of the ball or the gap at the socket may effect gas flow, right? Similar to comparing the factory air bellows to a straight silicone coupler.
Any thoughts?
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 3
From: Plano Texas
Yeah I can see that.
But what about power? Not being able to hold all the different types and compare them, it seems the slip fit might offer a smoother transition from pipe to pipe. The ball fit seems like it is designed around flexability. The taper of the ball or the gap at the socket may effect gas flow, right? Similar to comparing the factory air bellows to a straight silicone coupler.
Any thoughts?
But what about power? Not being able to hold all the different types and compare them, it seems the slip fit might offer a smoother transition from pipe to pipe. The ball fit seems like it is designed around flexability. The taper of the ball or the gap at the socket may effect gas flow, right? Similar to comparing the factory air bellows to a straight silicone coupler.
Any thoughts?
That's why we use slip fit.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 18
From: Montgomery Il.
An LS3 exhaust pushes so much air that it's hard to imagine a ball/socket vs slip fit could be much of a difference at all. Even if there is a horsepower difference I can't see it being enough to make losing the convenience of the ball/socket worth it. I'd be willing to bet you couldn't feel the difference if both designs are tuned properly.
My coated Kooks have been on for over three years with zero issues I would buy them again.
Good luck with whichever set you chose.
My coated Kooks have been on for over three years with zero issues I would buy them again.
Good luck with whichever set you chose.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 959
Likes: 3
From: Hartford CT
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,972
Likes: 47
From: NCM Lifetime#2195 Bulverde, Texas 78163
St. Jude Donor '13
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,897
Likes: 412
From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
We did our headers just like we do the race cars, which are all slip fit.
We did this for a few reasons, one of which was already brought up, and that is keeping a smoother flow through the pipes.
Also for us, and many road racers, it is ground clearance. Not having a flange joint, or bolts hanging down keep the bottom of the car smoother and less of a chance for the car to get caught on something.
There does have to be expansion slots on the pipes of course to let them slide on and off...so that has to be covered when they go together, and they have to be tightened down, but I had them on my 2006 for over 60k daily driven miles in all kinds of weather with ZERO leaks along with customer cars now since 1998
We did this for a few reasons, one of which was already brought up, and that is keeping a smoother flow through the pipes.
Also for us, and many road racers, it is ground clearance. Not having a flange joint, or bolts hanging down keep the bottom of the car smoother and less of a chance for the car to get caught on something.
There does have to be expansion slots on the pipes of course to let them slide on and off...so that has to be covered when they go together, and they have to be tightened down, but I had them on my 2006 for over 60k daily driven miles in all kinds of weather with ZERO leaks along with customer cars now since 1998
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,022
Likes: 18
From: Tampa FL (formerly Justinjor)
Tech Contributor
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 959
Likes: 3
From: Hartford CT
Comparison Summary
Slip Fit
Slightly better flow from pipe to pipe
Cheaper to manufacture
Better for clearance issues
Ball Joint
Slightly easier install
Less chance for leaks
Definetly easier to uninstall
Bottom Line....Pick your poison
Slightly better flow from pipe to pipe
Cheaper to manufacture
Better for clearance issues
Ball Joint
Slightly easier install
Less chance for leaks
Definetly easier to uninstall
Bottom Line....Pick your poison
Last edited by Shifter6; Mar 16, 2012 at 03:14 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,391
Likes: 23
From: Santa Barbara CA
As much as I like the longer primary tubes, the above problem and the extra time needed to drop the exhaust makes me wish I'd bought a different brand....
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 238
Likes: 1
From: swedeboro new jersey
Wow! Thought i was the on;y person with header fitting problems. I have Stainless Works and they have been a problem from day one. My car has been at the exhaust shop 4 different occasions and $300 later, last night being the latest, I am still experiencing problems. My buddy is a tech at a local Chevy dealer and he builds LS motors on the side. He measured one of my long tubes and determined one side is 2 1/4 short than the other. I purchsed stainless clamps for $45 each. Took it to the exhaust guy and this evening I Took my daughter for ice cream and heard a loud rattling. Now, I have to go back, so he can re-weld the pipes. These headers have been a pain in the A.....S! I had these headers on my 06 and had the same issues, but I rarely drove it. I drive my 08 more now. Tired of spending unnecessary money!!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,872
Likes: 294
From: St. Louis MO
Mine do the same. Every joint seems to dump a bunch of water when warming up the engine, so I'm assuming there's some exhaust leakage as well. And I tried everything with the supplied clamps -- the expansion slots are definitely covered, too.
As much as I like the longer primary tubes, the above problem and the extra time needed to drop the exhaust makes me wish I'd bought a different brand....
As much as I like the longer primary tubes, the above problem and the extra time needed to drop the exhaust makes me wish I'd bought a different brand....
Kooks!
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
Ive had BOTH!!! Ive had STAINLESS WORKS headers that I installed on my C5 ZO6 that use SLIP FIT & XS Power headers with the ball and socket collector that I installed on my 06 Coupe. Which do I prefer?????? BOTH work fine But,,,, The BALL JOINT seem to seal and work better.
Stainless Works headers are great. The XS Power Headers that I installed on my 06 Coupe worked EXCELLENT.