[BDPhoto519]

I got around to working on this tonight...

The passenger side bend definitely gets in the way of the wider strap clamp on my car, but i just pushed it forward abit so the seam in the middle of the clamp was ahead of the pipe seam and away from the curve a little and cranked the bolts tight. The metal is really thin and formed over it perfectly and made a new hump section.

On the driver side you have more room and the clamp fit like normal.

One thing i did before hand was wrap the joint with the heat fusing muffler repair tape, then put the clamps over top. Seems to have solved the leak 100%

I will post up if that changes in the future.

[MR-02]

Now I'm confused...also BDphoto519 thanks for your info in solving this....

So I went to another shop to ask for advice on this (welding vs band clamps)
and basically they said......it needs to leak from somewhere??????????

They explained it like this:
#1 "...the original GM exhaust had weep holes back at the muffler because it NEEDS to release the condensation (we know this part already) BUT then they explained the condensation leaking from my aftermarket set up serves the equivalent purpose, just at an earlier location-right after the cats. ????? They said it NEEDS to weep from somewhere, and that's the lowest point where the condensation collects."

#2 Next I asked "....but the aftermarket pipes were NOT designed to weep moisture from there-they were meant to be clamped tight-right? "They replied "....yes, but just be glad its coming out from somewhere because otherwise it will rot out your exhaust-remember GM had their own weep holes already."

#3 " But I thought this was a Stainless Steel exhaust?, it wont rot....."
They replied:
" True...but you still don't want that moisture in the pipes, be glad its coming out from somewhere" ????????

So I don't get it!!!!!!!
Shouldn't the moisture just be expected to blow out the back with the rest of the exhaust? WHY must it have the condensation leaking effect???

***Can any exhaust specialist please help clarify what's best-basically I don't want it to leak anywhere-at all.

Is there Anyone else here with a cat back set-up also experiencing this water leaking at this location?

Does this mean if that I actually manage to seal this leak, my stainless exhaust will rot anyways?

WTF? Help

[95 imp]

Stainless steel is still steel (say that 10x fast). It will still rust. Eventually.

https://www.polymersolutions.com/blo...ss-steel-rust/

The condensation will still collect in the lowest portion of the exhaust system. And, as long as the whole system doesn't go above 213*F (101*C), the water will stay in there.

[MR-02]

Thanks for the info.....but do you mean that due to the curvature design of the pipes all gen6's have will have trapped condensation that will eventually rust the stainless no matter if we install a cat back or if stay with the GM original exhaust?

[JCunningham]

the shop was making it up as they went along. you do not want it leaking anywhere but the back of the car. you dont want to be sitting in traffic with exhaust gas coming in the cab. The condensation in the pipe will be blown into the muffler quickly so you dont need holes in the pipe. it will collect in the lowest part of the system, the muffler. if you only take short trips. it wont burn off and the stainless steel will eventually rot. If you take alot of short trips you could put some small holes in the lowest part of the mufflers to let the condensation drip out if you wanted to.

[95 imp]

Every dip in every exhaust is a theoretical trap.

Exhaust pipe temperature and exhaust gas velocity will affect how much water actually condenses/stays in there.

Short trips in winter? More water. Long trips in summer? Less water. High RPM? gas velocity to push water out. Higher pipe temp? Water stays a vapor and goes out the tailpipe.

In a nutshell (IMO) it's better to let the water drip out than try to keep it in the system to blow out the back end. Most of the time it will drip for the first 5/10 minutes of operation and go away as everything heats up.

The only exception might be the weep holes on the muffler.

[95 imp]

Originally Posted by JCunningham

the shop was making it up as they went along

Gonna have to disagree with this one. I don't know ANY shop that is going to say "We do not want to make money".

Some places will weld it up and then lube the exhaust system for an extra $300. Unless you want to spend an additional $100 for the priemium synthetic grease Camaro's really should use.

[JCunningham]

o ok im wrong because the guy didnt want to rip him off. Why do i even bother on here anymore. I guess GM was wrong 2 making the exhaust 1 piece with only 2 weep holes in the back of the mufflers. OP take a drill and put a bunch of holes in the exhaust so water can weep out because the guy at the shop said its ok for the exhaust to leak. Dont mind the smell in the cab and when you feel wheezy just pull over befor you pass out.

[95 imp]

No.. didn't say you were 100% wrong. GM makes it one piece because it saves them money in parts and labor to install.
That is what they look for.

If there were a big leak at that joint I'd agree with you. There just isnt that big of a leak to sweat imo

[oldman]

would agree with 95 imp

[MR-02]

Thanks for the info...
Do either of you - or anyone else reading this - have a cat back exhaust? How does my photo at the beginning of this thread compare?
......I mean,I spent almost 2000.00 for this cat back system--I love the sound, but it better dam last a long while!!!!!!
How bad is mine compared to anyone else's that is leaking? Can anyone post some pics? I have about 7000km on mine.....how does yours look?

[95 imp]

You're worrying about the wrong stuff.....

All cars have water as a byproduct of combustion. All cars produce/drip water somewhere. The volume, the location it comes out at is irrelevant.
Just make sure the car is fully warmed up between trips and you'll be fine. An occasional short trip to the corner store isn't going to kill it.

The only exception is if you have large volumes of steam coming out the tailpipe constantly and you're always adding water in the radiator. That is totally different and isn't the case here.

[MattWll]

And I decided to try the same. Of course, welding would be the most radical solution. But I would like to change over time.

[MR-02]

Originally Posted by 95 imp

Stainless steel is still steel (say that 10x fast). It will still rust. Eventually.

https://www.polymersolutions.com/blo...ss-steel-rust/

The condensation will still collect in the lowest portion of the exhaust system. And, as long as the whole system doesn't go above 213*F (101*C), the water will stay in there.

That's a great article...thank you and also for everyone else's advice on this too....I guess Ill forget about the leak.