There shouldn't be any rasp. I just went from test pipes to ART Pipes and the rasp wen't from disgusting and unbearable to virtually non-existent. :tup:

I am having this same problem from my passenger side ART Pipe. It sounds to me like the rattle is coming from the pipe itself and not the resonator, but it's hard to pinpoint it exactly. It is definitely coming from the art pipe though and it's not hitting on anything on the car..

It sounds like what Tony just said.. a small metallic bead or something bouncing around.

Thank you! :tup:

IMO the brace should be used with any pipe. Art pipe or not , and exhausts have alreay broke with them right ? So I guess you can assume it is needed.

what exhausts have broken?

ive only heard of Invidia breaking? So maybe the problem lies with that exhaust moreso than the TP or HFC's etc

The test pipes tilt up and down with the motor, and if you have an exhaust with a flex section like the Gemini, it will tear.

I'm going to cut and weld the mount tabs from the OEM cats to the ART Pipes. I don't want to risk an exhaust leak, having to replace a flex section, headache, etc. - so I'd rather just do it right.

i understand what your saying. but what im asking is which exhausts have broken other than the gemini?

People are making it sound like any exhaust with flex pipes will break because of this. What im saying is that so far it sounds like onmy Gemini's have had issues. And someone also had an issue even without TP's. So im thinking the issue lies with the Invidia's, not anything else.

^^ This.

Let me first say that I don't know about the exhaust tearing, and haven't looked the issue up, so there could be some ignorance on my part here.

No offense meant, but isn't Invidia a company that makes inexpensive substitutes? It sounds to me like an issue with the exhaust. The whole point of a flex pipe is so that it can flex. These motors don't torque around THAT much so I can see no possible way of it torquing the pipes enough to mess up a flex pipe section, unless it's poorly made.

If anything, putting the support bracket on the ART Pipes will be a bad idea (if even possible), because that will disallow the flex joints to do their job. If the ART Pipes are rigidly in place and the engine flexes some, you might break the welds on the ART Pipes where they meet up with the headers, or most likely the welds will break where you added mounting tabs for the OEM cat brace. The OEM cats can handle this wear and tear because they are very heavy and made of a much heavier and more durable metal. The rubber bushings on the OEM brace give them enough play to be ok. Lighter test pipes though.. well that could be a whole different story.

The brace is just there because the OEM cats are pretty heavy.. it helps support their weight.. it's as simple as that. The brace is not there to save your exhaust from the engine flexing around. The ART Pipes weigh like half as much, so the headers and exhaust system should be able to bear the weight themselves, without the help of the OEM mounting bracket.

Considering the relatively rare availability of the VHR ART Pipes, it's hard to tell. Most test pipes and HFCs have a mount tab for the brace, and most shops do reinstall it. I believe overtime you can break a flange without the brace if you don't have an exhaust with a flex section - it is there for a reason beyond just supporting OEM components. It's to lessen flex and tilt and the wear it causes in general. Invidias are having issues more rapidly due to their design (again: flex sections), but I wouldn't rule out other exhausts eventually developing issues as a result of this either, even though it will take some miles, which will also vary on driving style.

When I unmodded my 350Z, my shop forgot to install the brace back on. They simply told me to take it easy and avoid frequent burst of throttle, otherwise I stood a chance at hurting the cats or y-pipe without the brace.

Not sure about Invidia being a knock off brand...their exhaust doesn't look or sound like any other out there. They make a pretty quality product. That said, I'll reiterate my point about another member who had to warranty two flex sections from his Invidia because of his test pipes (which are even lighter than ART Pipes) and it stopped tearing once the brace was put back on.

Don't think weight plays that much of a role. It's bracing to limit flex that's most important.

Bad idea... Any hfc or test pipe with the stock mounting tabs always break or crack.. Do a search on how many berks crack with the tabs. Alot including my old ones.. How many crack with no tab.. Virtually none.. Do a search and u shall see..

What? That sounds backwards. On the 350Z Berks were cracking because they didn't have tabs...then Berk added them and cracking issues stopped for good. I can't imagine the opposite being true for the 370Z.

Can you link me to the threads? Searching provides way too many irrelevant results.

Exhausts breaking is a defect of the exhaust. And from my experience, a brace on the test pipe is more likely to cause cracking and failure than not having one. So we don't include for that reason.

I certainly don't recommend it.

The tabs you refer to are bolted to the transmission, which is bolted to the engine, which is free floating on the engine mounts, so the entire assembly moves all the same. The bracket doesn't stop the engine movement. It only reduces flexure of the test pipes or stock cats between the engine and the bracket. But then all the flexure force or torque is then moved from the bracket on back.

In the case of the stock cats, they are heavy and large in diameter and have a high coefficient of rigidity. IE they have no tolerance for flexure because any flexure will be localized to the inlet flange weld point. This obviously is a bad place to have any flexing.

In the case of ART pipes or regular test pipes, the ENTIRE PIPE IS A FLEXURE. It is better to allow the whole pipe flex because there are no stress risers in it. The pipe can easily flex over its entire length and have no problem doing it for a long period of time with a high number of cycles.

Add a bracket to the mix and all that flexure force will be localized and focused right at the bracket weld joint... Stress risers are not a good thing.

If any exhaust has flex sections breaking, it is a result of weak flex sections.

Hmmm, alright Tony, I will take your word for it.

I won't cut and weld the tabs from the OEM cats to the ART Pipes. Hoping for the best this Saturday.

That sounds reasonable to me.

By the same logic, if anyone chooses to fab up a mount regardless, it sounds like it needs to allow a little rotation because the pipe gauge isn't as heavy as OEM. A weld would struggle at that task because it doesn't give much. Something like an engine mount or exhaust hanger would be a better model.

Personally, I wouldn't bother. It sounds like they've given it thought and intentionally omitted the mount, so it's not like this was a clear oversight or blunder.