Club 80-90 Forums

Hi Guys

Anyone ever seen this before? It looks like part of my exhaust pipe has clean snapped? It's a stainless steel exhaust pipe. It's 6 years old but no sign of any rust. If I didn't know any different I'd say someone had cut through it with an angle grinder. It's such a clean cut. Very strange. Can stainless steel fatigue and break like this?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ll97qj1hkWp1dob83

Thanks,
Tim.

Yes, it looks like the alignment wasn't very good putting strain on an area that has been worked and become more brittle. Not uncommon with stainless which is brittle to start with.

Stress corrosion cracking occurs in stainless steel when it has been exposed to chlorides water and heat. It's a known issue in the chemical industry, but not come across it on exhaust systems where I think it's more likely just a stress fracture caused by vibration and the pipes being tightened & stressed into position when fitted. Stainless is less ductile than mild steel.....

You should be able to get it repaired, just make sure that the pipe is the right shape so that it is not being stressed when refitted

Possibly worth adding a support clamp and bracket somewhere around the bend area if possible. ( I haven't a clue as to the layout of engine/exhaust on those funny petrol engines )

can't see the pics myself but stainless is brittle and does crack.
Not for life as people think.

Thanks guys.

Would you buy that section or just get it welded? I bought this originally from Brickwerks. Unless they've changed their kit since then I think it's the intermediate pipe available here:
https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/stainless- ... -2-1l.html

Cheers,
Tim.

It's your call really Tim. Buying new means you have a relatively simply swap to carry out.......... but it might still be stressed and will fail again. Getting it welded should be fine and provide an opportunity to tweak the pipe so that it isn't stressed when refitted. But, do you know a decent stainless welder near you ?

if its the intermediate than it may not have been fitted well, the position of the silencer is important to get it to align well, if you don't get that right then its putting stress on the pipe.

https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/intermedia ... nless.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;