Kooks LT - scraping/uncomfortable vibration

[altjx]

As some of you may already know, I just bought some Kooks LT 1-7/8" headers for my roushcharged vert and I'm experiencing some pretty frustrating issues. I had a shop install them for me and just trying to collect as much information as I can to assist with troubleshooting (while in the waiting area, lol).

Basically, I'm experiencing some annoying scraping/vibration sounds after a few different scenarios. I've emailed Kooks both yesterday and today, and I'm currently at the shop while they try figuring this out. I think they're also calling (or have already called) Kooks for assistance.

So here's when I hear and feel this annoying scraping:

1. If I drive the car "normally" (keeping under 2.5k RPMs) for like 10 minutes, I can start to feel the vibration and sort of feel the scraping after accelerating (after like 5-10 minutes of driving). It lasts for a few minutes and then comes and goes only during acceleration.
2. If I go WOT, the vibration/scraping is extremely noticeable, and even when taking my foot off the pedal after going WOT. After going WOT and let's say I'm getting off of the interstate, it's so noticeable at the red light that I almost want to just pull over and wait awhile. This lasts for like 10 minutes before going back to scenario #1.

It seems to happen more noticeable when the headers get hot. The scraping/vibration feeling is most likely coming from them because I can feel it like directly in front of my feet in the driver seat and it only happened right after the install. Never had any other issues with the car.

I've also taken it to a friend's workplace and had him put it on a lift. It seemed like the area around the headers were pretty tight, but that was about it. Tried moving the exhaust system around a little bit but no luck.

Anyone else experience anything like this and may have any advice that I could pass along? Perhaps another stupid "verts have xyz and requires xyz" situation?

Sponsored

 

[Derek@Lethal]

Depending on how the shop created space to get the headers in, the engine could be shifted to one side vs the other. Check around the steering shaft, that's typically where interference happens if the engine is too far off set. To solve this, just loosen the motor mount bolt and move the engine over either way to create your clearance.

 

[altjx]

Depending on how the shop created space to get the headers in, the engine could be shifted to one side vs the other. Check around the steering shaft, that's typically where interference happens if the engine is too far off set. To solve this, just loosen the motor mount bolt and move the engine over either way to create your clearance.

Thanks Derek I'll pass this along.

 

[altjx]

They don't see any rubbing marks or anything around the steering shaft area (not sure if it would be obvious or not), but it does look pretty tight around there. Took some pics for Kooks and going to also post them here.

 

[altjx]

So the shop reinstalled the cats and they hooked the back wheels up to an AWD dyno while the front (and underneath) was on a lift and visible. Didn't really hear anything, at least not as bad as it was. Went for a test drive, felt some vibrations and heard a deep tone from the front center of the car, but no scratching or scraping sound like I heard earlier.

:|

 

[altjx]

And a video (if it helps) :\

[ame]

 

[Kuba]

I'll take a shot at it. I'm most likely wrong on this but you never know. Odd shit happens all the time. So.... I think you may have an foreign object that is stuck in the headers port/channel either by a piece of metal or weld seeping Inside of tubing creating obstruction in flow/sound. I've seen this before. Because metal expansion as its getting hotter it can alter the behavior, that leads me to believe that you're experiencing all these abnormalities due to temp variations as you mentioned that in your initial post. Buy or rent inspection camera and feed it into LTs and see what's inside. If you don't find anything = one less thing to worry about. Should be fairly cheap and quick to do and I highly recommend doing this before pulling header/s out. Good luck man, I do hope you'll figure out the problem soon

 

[Terminator2]

Looks close to the steering shaft. How much actual room is there?. My pypes on my 2013 I had about a thumb width of clearance and no issues at all.

 

[cbrtrx]

Maybe its just the angle from the vid but one of the passenger side tubes look very close to the k member.

 

[P51DNA]

How bout exhaust clearances after the headers around the driveshaft? Exhaust clamp bolts touching anywhere near the pumpkin? I had similar issue before I installed headers had to switch to band clamps cause u bolt clamp was just barely rubbing. Enough to make a wicked noise though

 

[altjx]

I'll take a shot at it. I'm most likely wrong on this but you never know. Odd shit happens all the time. So.... I think you may have an foreign object that is stuck in the headers port/channel either by a piece of metal or weld seeping Inside of tubing creating obstruction in flow/sound. I've seen this before. Because metal expansion as its getting hotter it can alter the behavior, that leads me to believe that you're experiencing all these abnormalities due to temp variations as you mentioned that in your initial post. Buy or rent inspection camera and feed it into LTs and see what's inside. If you don't find anything = one less thing to worry about. Should be fairly cheap and quick to do and I highly recommend doing this before pulling header/s out. Good luck man, I do hope you'll figure out the problem soon

Looks close to the steering shaft. How much actual room is there?. My pypes on my 2013 I had about a thumb width of clearance and no issues at all.

I told the shop about the area near the steering shaft but it didn't seem to be close. Not sure about the specific size though. Is it easy to adjust this just to try it out?

Maybe its just the angle from the vid but one of the passenger side tubes look very close to the k member.

Agreed. Not sure why but it didn't come up from Kooks or the shop when they looked at it. So much stuff looks tight in there it's crazy.

How bout exhaust clearances after the headers around the driveshaft? Exhaust clamp bolts touching anywhere near the pumpkin? I had similar issue before I installed headers had to switch to band clamps cause u bolt clamp was just barely rubbing. Enough to make a wicked noise though

Hmm not too sure. I'll pass this info along though. Didn't seem too bad when looking personally. Going to take it to another forum member tomorrow and hope he sees something that stands out since he's done a few installs himself.

Thanks for all of the input guys. I hate that taptalk is gone -- never knew any of these messages came through even with instant notifications.

Anyways, I had a guy at Kooks look at those pictures and also the video and he mentioned that the install looked really good. Not quite sure what's up now :(. I'm putting another video together with my gopro (captured the audio pretty well).

Also had another forum member ride in the passenger seat and hear it and he thinks it may be drone (along with one of the mechanics at the shop). I'm really hoping it's not though. I love this setup way too much (minus this one annoying issue) and really don't want to get rid of it.

 

[ob1]

No sure what exhaust you have but maybe the headers pushed the exhaust back and it maybe it's hitting something when warm. Good luck.

 

[altjx]

No sure what exhaust you have but maybe the headers pushed the exhaust back and it maybe it's hitting something when warm. Good luck.

Corsa Xtreme Cat-Back. Thanks a lot for the pictures man! Seriously.

 

[altjx]

Video:

[ame]

 

[cbrtrx]

Does sound like the exhaust is hitting somewhere, are you sure the motor mounts are all tight?

Sponsored