ARH ball and socket leaking

20Bluezl1 · 03-20-2021, 04:48 PM

So I just finished installing ARH headers and midpipes. Etier I'm doing something wrong or this clamp sucks. I have tried different positions and it still leaks. What are my options better clamps, sealant?

sickss228 · 03-20-2021, 05:20 PM

Looks like the same style joint I have on my kooks, I couldn't get them to seal worth a damn. Mine were coated so I ended up taking the coating off the mating surface but they still leaked. I used some high temp red rtv on the socket side and it stopped leaking. I actually ended up doing all the joints in my exhaust with it until I have time to tig it all up.

20Bluezl1 · 03-20-2021, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sickss228

Looks like the same style joint I have on my kooks, I couldn't get them to seal worth a damn. Mine were coated so I ended up taking the coating off the mating surface but they still leaked. I used some high temp red rtv on the socket side and it stopped leaking. I actually ended up doing all the joints in my exhaust with it until I have time to tig it all up.

Don't understand you pay top dollar for something and the clamp are garbage and don't seal correctly. Everything else is good but those 2 joints.

danhr · 03-20-2021, 05:59 PM

Are you torqueing them to spec?

20Bluezl1 · 03-20-2021, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danhr

Are you torqueing them to spec?

ARH doesn't come with instructions I'm doing them at 25 ft lbs which is what I looked up.

IneedAZ · 03-20-2021, 06:11 PM

Welcome to the club. I have the ARH Headers going into their long system. I'm on my 3rd set of clamps. Actually installed them today. I am using exhaust seal wrap around the joint. Much better than before. It was so bad I was seeing it in my wideband reading. You would think for that kind of money it would be a better fit. I am tempted to have it welded and use the connection to the x pipe be the breakaway point.

IneedAZ · 03-20-2021, 06:23 PM

Forgot to mention that I spoke to ARH earlier this week and he said that most people don't install the system properly. He said the Headers should be lose when the exhaust system is attached to it. He followed it up by saying to tighten the exhaust from the back and work forward. At this point I'm not going thru loosening it to redo.

20Bluezl1 · 03-20-2021, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IneedAZ

Welcome to the club. I have the ARH Headers going into their long system. I'm on my 3rd set of clamps. Actually installed them today. I am using exhaust seal wrap around the joint. Much better than before. It was so bad I was seeing it in my wideband reading. You would think for that kind of money it would be a better fit. I am tempted to have it welded and use the connection to the x pipe be the breakaway point.

So what do the shops do to fix the issue without welding them?

IneedAZ · 03-20-2021, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 20Bluezl1

So what do the shops do to fix the issue without welding them?

Good question.. I bought jb weld high temp exhaust wrap kit. Only using 2 items from the 3 piece kit. Bought it from Autozone. Think it was $15. Believe it is good up to 1800 degrees.

20Bluezl1 · 03-20-2021, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IneedAZ

Good question.. I bought jb weld high temp exhaust wrap kit. Only using 2 items from the 3 piece kit. Bought it from Autozone. Think it was $15. Believe it is good up to 1800 degrees.

I was goingvto yry this JB weld muffler seal.

IneedAZ · 03-20-2021, 08:07 PM

Not sure if it is high enough temp rated. Permatex had some I think it is good to 2000 degrees

sage85z28 · 03-20-2021, 08:48 PM

I had to crank the hell out of mine and they sealed up, I thought the clamp was going to break.

20Bluezl1 · 03-20-2021, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sage85z28

I had to crank the hell out of mine and they sealed up, I thought the clamp was going to break.

I tried that also I even bent the bolts it came with. I bought another set of bolts and no luck.

LiqTenExp · 03-20-2021, 10:41 PM

Mine have always leaked a little. I brillo padded them and loosened up the exhaust behind and wound up getting a "better" seal. Make sure the clamp doesn't slide out of position when tightening down.

03-20-2021, 04:48 PM	#1
20Bluezl1 Drives: 2020 Zl1 A10 Riverside Blue Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: NJ Posts: 1,216	ARH ball and socket leaking So I just finished installing ARH headers and midpipes. Etier I'm doing something wrong or this clamp sucks. I have tried different positions and it still leaks. What are my options better clamps, sealant? Attached Images

03-20-2021, 05:20 PM	#2
sickss228 Drives: 18 ZL1 mostly stock Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: NJ Posts: 89	Looks like the same style joint I have on my kooks, I couldn't get them to seal worth a damn. Mine were coated so I ended up taking the coating off the mating surface but they still leaked. I used some high temp red rtv on the socket side and it stopped leaking. I actually ended up doing all the joints in my exhaust with it until I have time to tig it all up. __________________ 07 LMB Z06 Cartek 4x heads and cam, ARH, Vararam, FAST 102, NW 102 18 ZL1 M6 MTI cam, FED heads, FBO's

03-20-2021, 05:59 PM	#4
danhr BAMF SS Drives: 2016 Camaro 1SS A8 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ford City, PA Posts: 3,023	Are you torqueing them to spec? __________________ 2016 1SS A8: FBO + Circle D + P1X + Meth + Tuned by Pray Performance Stock Longblock 800 SAE rwhp. 9.4 @ 145 mph.

03-20-2021, 06:11 PM	#6
IneedAZ Drives: 2017 ZL1 A10 & 2021 BMW M340i x Dr Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tampa Posts: 5,110 View My Garage	Welcome to the club. I have the ARH Headers going into their long system. I'm on my 3rd set of clamps. Actually installed them today. I am using exhaust seal wrap around the joint. Much better than before. It was so bad I was seeing it in my wideband reading. You would think for that kind of money it would be a better fit. I am tempted to have it welded and use the connection to the x pipe be the breakaway point. __________________ Sold 2012 2LT RS 12.3@112 old setup Sold 1967 Camaro Pro Street. Ran 10's mild BB on NOS. 2017 HyperBlue ZL1 A10 Born 3/17/17Delivered 4/08/17 2020 Build: Mag2650, BTR Stage2, NW103, BG, 14% lower, 90mm upper, ARH 2" Long system w/no cats, SW Legend mufflers. 807hp/762tq on 93 gas and 848hp/792tq on e47 Sold 2018 (Go Mango) Dodge Charger Daytona 392 Daily Driver Daily Driver 2021 BMW M340i Xdrive

03-20-2021, 06:23 PM	#7
IneedAZ Drives: 2017 ZL1 A10 & 2021 BMW M340i x Dr Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tampa Posts: 5,110 View My Garage	Forgot to mention that I spoke to ARH earlier this week and he said that most people don't install the system properly. He said the Headers should be lose when the exhaust system is attached to it. He followed it up by saying to tighten the exhaust from the back and work forward. At this point I'm not going thru loosening it to redo. __________________ Sold 2012 2LT RS 12.3@112 old setup Sold 1967 Camaro Pro Street. Ran 10's mild BB on NOS. 2017 HyperBlue ZL1 A10 Born 3/17/17Delivered 4/08/17 2020 Build: Mag2650, BTR Stage2, NW103, BG, 14% lower, 90mm upper, ARH 2" Long system w/no cats, SW Legend mufflers. 807hp/762tq on 93 gas and 848hp/792tq on e47 Sold 2018 (Go Mango) Dodge Charger Daytona 392 Daily Driver Daily Driver 2021 BMW M340i Xdrive

03-20-2021, 08:07 PM	#11
IneedAZ Drives: 2017 ZL1 A10 & 2021 BMW M340i x Dr Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tampa Posts: 5,110 View My Garage	Not sure if it is high enough temp rated. Permatex had some I think it is good to 2000 degrees __________________ Sold 2012 2LT RS 12.3@112 old setup Sold 1967 Camaro Pro Street. Ran 10's mild BB on NOS. 2017 HyperBlue ZL1 A10 Born 3/17/17Delivered 4/08/17 2020 Build: Mag2650, BTR Stage2, NW103, BG, 14% lower, 90mm upper, ARH 2" Long system w/no cats, SW Legend mufflers. 807hp/762tq on 93 gas and 848hp/792tq on e47 Sold 2018 (Go Mango) Dodge Charger Daytona 392 Daily Driver Daily Driver 2021 BMW M340i Xdrive

03-20-2021, 08:48 PM	#12
sage85z28 Drives: 2017 1SS cruiser/ 1985 Z28 racecar Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Annapolis MD Posts: 77	I had to crank the hell out of mine and they sealed up, I thought the clamp was going to break. __________________ 17 SS 2” ARH headers, high flow cats, and 3”X pipe into NPP, Katech ported 95 mm TB, LT2 IM, roto fab, DSX FF, Katech 160* BMR motor mounts, ATI damper, 493 RWHP https://youtu.be/E-MDIyLtV48

03-20-2021, 10:41 PM	#14
LiqTenExp Drives: 2017 ZL1 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: NJ Posts: 905	Mine have always leaked a little. I brillo padded them and loosened up the exhaust behind and wound up getting a "better" seal. Make sure the clamp doesn't slide out of position when tightening down. __________________ 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe M6 (847whp Dynojet on 93)

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