I have BR downpipe and recently notice that I have a leak. There's a leak between the DP and 02 housing. One of the stock spring bolt was bad an also both the hole on the 02 housing is bad. I was able to turn the bolt but it keeps on spinning along with the spring.

I replace the spring bolt with a regular 10mmx1.25 bolt and washer but notice that it still leaks. At idle I can hear tapping noise from the DP and my idle fluctuates. I know people says that a DP leak does not effect performance and I may be paranoid but it seems to make a difference to me. Maybe TQ decrease as HP increase due to backpressure or whatever but the car doesn't seem to pull as hard as before and I would feel better if it gets fix. Some car run without the catback for power so it must matter right?? Also the 02 sensor is close by

I would appreciate any suggestions. Can I use a gasket in between the DP and 02 housing? Do I need to get smaller springs to put on the bolt?

Thanks.

http://tinypic.com/e9elhs.jpg

 

dude, you probably stripped the o2 housing huh....like I told you, just pick up a better flowing 02 housing...

 

That means either a new turbo or 10.5 hotside and new 02 housing + another dynoflash = $$$$$$ I'll consider that next year but for now I hope I can get it fix. Maybe I should trade this thing

 

With the BR DP the stock spring bolts are not used. Call Buschur and they will send you out a couple of the bolts they send in the kit.

 

Thanks. DO you know if it's similar to what I already have there in the picture?

 

Yes the are similiar. I will see if I can find any distinguishing marks on mine. It is currently waiting to be installed on my 05.

 

Thanks. I don't mind buying from them but if it's the same as the one I already have I don't know if it'll do me any good.

 

Get another downpipe. Buschur's doesn't use the donut gasket. Get an HKS or Helix. The O2 end has a bell shape to accomodate it.

 

Another solution is to have the mating surfaces machined flat. That sould prevent leaks as long as they don't warp over time.

 

That's just another band-aid fix for something that wasn't right in the first place. I vote for get another downpipe that uses the factory donut gasket. Let's hope you didn't strip the threads in your current o2 housing.

 

Thanks and I never had an issue until now. Not sure what happen. I don't have the the factory donut gasket anymore. I'm not sure about the threads in the 02 housing but I can manually turn the screw 10x1.25 screw into the downpipe\02 without a problem. When I use the stock DP spring bolt, it will go in and turn as I screw in the bolt but both the spring and bolt will keep on turning\spinning and not stop.

 

I had the same problem with the leak between the downpipe and O2 housing. Just get some orange hi-temp silicon gasket maker. Just apply it like glue between the downpipe and O2 housing and tighten them up and leave them for about 24 hours before driving. The specific brand I used was Permatex "Ultra Copper Sensor-safe High Temp RTV Silicone Gasket Maker" from Autozone. I haven't had a leak since then.

 

This is what I need to do. Thanks a lot. Did you use stock DP bolt? BTW did you notice any difference in HP\TQ when the car had a DP leak??

 

Any more help or suggestions? Looks like I'm down to using a different DP or using the RTV stuff. I hope they works.

 

This is my guess as to why you didn't have a leak before but are having it now. Your downpipe has no flex section and it uses a flat flange at the o2 housing. When your car goes over bumps, the whole exhaust cantilevers off the downpipe flange at the o2 housing. Is this thing going to bend or stay flat over time? Check your downpipe flange for flatness.