I installed my BC race header last week and it has a leak. I thought maybe after putting some miles on it that it may go away, but it hasn't. It's leaking were the pipes just slide together held by the spings. Has anyone else experienced this or have any ideas as to how to get it to stop? I was thinking maybe having the pieces welded together, but hey, Buddy Club is way smarter than me and would have done it to begin with if it needed it. I'm open to any suggestions. Other than the noise from the exhaust leak, these things are awesome.

 

Options:

1. Get a new flange gasket.
2. Have a good muffler shop check it out to make sure it's a leak.
3. Give it to me if you can't figure it out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 24boosted &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Options:

1. Get a new flange gasket.
2. Have a good muffler shop check it out to make sure it's a leak.
3. Give it to me if you can't figure it out. </TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL @ #3.

It's not leaking at the flanges. I had it up while it was running and can feel where the leak is coming from. It's where the pipes actually slide together, you can feel it coming out. I'll try to find a pic to demonstrate.

 

I tought it was a leak also but the mechanic at the shop said it sounds raspy like tha naturally. He said that once you eliminate the cat you begin to hear everything, im still not sure since at wot the noise is loud. Let me know if you find anything out.

 

In the picture I added I circled where you can feel exhaust coming out of the header.

 

I think buddy club would have thought of this happening though. Anybody else have this problem ?

 

I just installed mine yesterday and I noticed the same thing. It's slightly leaking at the slip joints. I can really only hear it under load when I'm next to a jersey barrier or guardrail. But I'm extrmely happy with the gains, Smoked my buddies 05 WRX with 225 whp and 219 Wt

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 92DAturboteg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just installed mine yesterday and I noticed the same thing. It's slightly leaking at the slip joints. I can really only hear it under load when I'm next to a jersey barrier or guardrail. But I'm extrmely happy with the gains, Smoked my buddies 05 WRX with 225 whp and 219 Wt </TD></TR></TABLE>

^^^Is this conversation gonna happen again?


Modified by IT GUY at 3:24 PM 7/16/2007

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IT GUY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

^^^Is this conversation gonna happen again?</TD></TR></TABLE>


Is there something that you know that obviously we don't? I sure can't find any other threads discussing this issue. Maybe I spelled Buddy Club wrong when searching?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by will_rex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


Is there something that you know that obviously we don't? I sure can't find any other threads discussing this issue. Maybe I spelled Buddy Club wrong when searching?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was talkin' about the guy above my last post talkin' about smokin' a WRX.. there's been at least 2-3 threads about wrx vs si in the last week

sorry if I screwed up your thread

 

Oh, I thought you meant there was already discussion on the exhaust leak. It's cool.

 

Well, you could always have a shop weld the pipes together right there, but that wouldn't be how BC designed it.

 

First off, I was not trying to start a discussion on my beating of a wrx. Just stating proof that I saw good gains. Secondly, I called Buddy club today and they told me their racing spec header was designed to be used with a racing spec exhaust system which has no resonator or muffler. They said it is due to having to much backpressure and if i wanted to solve it, to put some high temp liquid gassket on the joints. Since I'm not in any rush to slather my 800.00 header in liquid ****, I will just deal with the minor leak and be happy with my gains.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 92DAturboteg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">First off, I was not trying to start a discussion on my beating of a wrx. Just stating proof that I saw good gains. Secondly, I called Buddy club today and they told me their racing spec header was designed to be used with a racing spec exhaust system which has no resonator or muffler. They said it is due to having to much backpressure and if i wanted to solve it, to put some high temp liquid gassket on the joints. Since I'm not in any rush to slather my 800.00 header in liquid ****, I will just deal with the minor leak and be happy with my gains.</TD></TR></TABLE>

About the WRX.. I was just waiting for someone to jump all over that comment.. I don't really have anything to say about it.. It's just been debated so much lately.

If it were me, I would tell Buddy Club to go to hell. It's interesting what they say about a "racing spec" exhaust, especially since their "racing spec" exhausts include mufflers. Squirting HondaBond or something equivilent all over the header doesn't sound too "apetizing" to me either.. bottom line is that it shouldn't have to be done. There's one way to check if they are telling the truth.. Remove the exhaust behind the header and see if it still leaks in the same spot. For a little bit more money you could have had a SSR mild steel header ($975 or so)

Personally, I'm saving my pennies for the Hytech header. Sorry to hear about the Buddy Club, the lower pricetag had begun to attract my attention. Now I'm definately sold on the Hytech stuff

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaggotSI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm really surprised at all these people who rant about not cutting corners and modding being an expensive hobby go buy an ant farm... yet everyone keeps buying these massively manufactured 'race headers'... not refering to the OP at all in this rant, but yea hytech all the way.

as for the leak. does it change at all after the car has been driven? i would think that if the pipes expanded enough it would close. if you have someone try to fix it just make sure if they are going to weld it they know what they are doing. someone could tig that baby all better. </TD></TR></TABLE>

i can kinda see the leak coming from too much back pressure if you're not running a test pipe and full catback.

im just assuming though....i have no experience with multi piece headers.

 

my SSR header is built the same way as the BC with the 3 pieces and mine does not leak. not even right after the install, it held pretty well. maybe the evo2 is holding a lot of back pressure though...

 

You all make valid points. It could be that since I don't have a cat-back yet, the stock is causing too much back pressure. And to those who seem to think that spending $800 on a header is cutting corners, ummmm, think again. Had I known that the "slip joints" would cause an exhaust leak, I would have just bought the SSR instead. Believe me, after having a boosted Type R and 2 EVO's, I know how to spend money modding a car I don't need your advice on it. And there's plenty of $ to go around.
Thanks to all those with helpful comments.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaggotSI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

and since when does "having a boosted Type R and 2 EVO's" have anything to do with it? You're the one that paid $800 for a leaky header not me buddy.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ok, so you infer that those who spend the money on a Buddy Club are getting what they pay for by "only" spending $800 on it not the $1300 that the others cost. Then you say you weren't talking about the "OP", which is me, yet that's what I bought. How about you keep your modification inputs to yourself, and just respond if you have anything to say that can help other than buying a Hytec header. Thanks.
Will

Please don't post in this thread anymore.

 

my friend has the same race header on his rsx. he has the same leak coming from the same spot... its hooked up to a T1R catback as well.

i guess this "leak" is normal with the buddy club race header.

p.s. IMO I don't think the buddy club race header is cutting corners.

 

Bump...you've got PM will_rex

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by will_rex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You all make valid points. It could be that since I don't have a cat-back yet, the stock is causing too much back pressure. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Why does your Sig say you have an EVO catback?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dirtySOHC’s &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

i can kinda see the leak coming from too much back pressure if you're not running a test pipe and full catback.

im just assuming though....i have no experience with multi piece headers.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Race header - replaces cat with test pipe

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IT GUY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Race header - replaces cat with test pipe
</TD></TR></TABLE>

ah, gotcha

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IT GUY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Why does your Sig say you have an EVO catback?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not to get in the middle of these endless bitch sessions, which seems to be the majority of the posts these days. It states "Still to come", at the beginning of the sentence.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IT GUY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Why does your Sig say you have an EVO catback?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

You've been owned by reading.

Mod's please lock this thread before it goes any further. I now know to take any more questions I may have directly to IT GUY for the most professional opinion.

Thanks to all who had informative input.

 

Well just to add to whats been covered and what hasnt.
SSR, Buddy Club and Hytec all make a nicely designed header which definitely produce results. Part of those results can be acredited to the R&D and part of them are A to Honda for producing a mod friendly high performance engine. Needless to say, Hytec does charge the extra money for hand built products that are QC'd. Many big name companies mass produce what was originally was a good design and a slight defect in mfg can cause a big problem or even a minor problem that will just be a nuisance. My point is that the buddy club by no means is a cheap or substitute header for others on the market, but as a manufacturer they have a responsibility to test products and publish results after doing so. Slip fits are not the greatest for a leak free system but they are useful in minimizing welds, allowing pieces to break apart easier for shipping purposes and to some extent allow some slight expansion in the metals. I dont suggest using the liquid solution they proposed, but having them rewelded is definitely an option. There shouldnt be a leak if it was a tight slip fit to begin with, but in this case you just have to go with one of the options mentioned in this thread. An Exhaust will only slightly help to reduce back pressure which may minimize the leak but most likely will not remove it completely.