I was under my car today and just wondered what exactly do the exhaust springs do. NO particular reason but If you tighten the bolts all thee way it seems like the springs dont do anything at all. Why arent their just solid bolts without springs

 

you shouldn't quite tighten the bolts all the way. The springs are there so that the exhaust can flex a little bit, so that it doesn't just break completely if you hit something with it. It's also nice when fitting it together to have a little play in it.

 

hmmm... i always thought of this myself... but i've stupidly cranked them as tight as i can get em lol... i'll have to loosen them up a bit

 

over torqueing bolts is bad news in general. I kinda figured those spring were to allow a little bit of play in the exhaust but was never really sure

 

I had thought about the whole play thing but the whole exhaust is hanging on rubber mounts that have easily 10x more play than the springs allow. If anyone has an accurate for sure answer chime in please

 

Yes, it is most definitely to allow the exhaust to move around. There are a couple systems, the two most popular are the mesh flex pipe and the other is the springed bolt. If the exhaust wasn't allowed to move at the down pipe it would break/tear over time from the engine constantly torquing on it.

 

i understand that but an engine doesnt/shouldnt move anymore than 1inch when pushin it(you know) those springs when compress will allow Im guessing a 1/4 in maxyeet those rubber hangers allow for id say close to 3inches of movement(ample room to move whole exhaust back and forward to replace donut gasket. I dont really get it

 

right, but if it was rigid and there was ZERO movement it would cause a stress fracture, ie the pipe being bent over and over.

 

When the motor has load on it in a forward gear the motor will tilt backwards, when the motor has load on it in reverse it will tilt forwards. These style exhaust springs compensate for this, and replace a flexpipe's job.

 

i understand that like I said before but the amount of play in those springs is so minimal compared to the flex of the rubber exhaust hangers, seems pointless.

 

If you crank the **** out of the bolts like an idiot of course there is going to be minimal play. All this offers is an additional pivot point for the exhaust. Even in slight load with good mounts the engine will move probably close to 1/2 inch either way(like you said). That means the exhaust will be brought down close to the same amount. I dont know if youve felt rubber hangars before but there pretty stiff and thats alot of pressure being put on the exhaust at all times while driving. Same goes for reverse except the exhaust would be floating in the hangars and all the weight is put on the front pipe. Its like d16y motors, why put 1 oiling hole in the rod when you can put 2 oiling holes like the d16z6's. Why let the exhaust be constantly tourqued on when you can pivot it at the front pipe?

 

To the OP.

Those springs (like others have mentioned) MUST be there. Honda put them there for a reason. They allow for movement in the exhaust system. If you have any knowledge of basic leverage you will understand why they have to be there.

If they are too tight, the setup does not function as intended and you WILL break an exhaust component somewhere in the system.

The amount the engine moves is irrelevant. It moves. PERIOD. Movement of any kind will break your exhaust over time if it is rigid (if the springs are too tight)

Don't believe us? Tighten them right down, wait a little while, then come back and try to disagree.

The only and ONLY time you can run rigid exhaust is on a drag or race car with a solid mounted motor (mounts with no movement or vibration absorbing properties)