Hey guys.

This is an odd story and I'm looking fro some input. I was idling my 06.5 xB at my parents today and noticed my exhaust sounded a little different.

I didn't think much of it and drove home. Along the way I noticed my exhaust sound change abruptly. So, I immediately pulled over and had a look. After some investigation, it appears as though the 2" pipe that feeds my axel back exhaust (GReddy EVOII) cracked all the way through. Must have had a weak spot or hit something recently. Just took awhile to completely separate the pipe.

Oddly, the break is pretty clean. It's about 2" from the clamp to the factory pipe (on the axel back side). It almost looks like it broke on a weld that what used to attach the flanged tip of the axel back, where it clamps to the factory pipe. Have a look:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/dmpsk8/IMG_0070-1.jpg

So, I picked up a bolt-on coupler and some pipe wrap to bandage it up short term. But on the way home I was thinking about leaving the axel back disconnected completely. It's louder, but not unbearable. Since the pipe is 2" at the break, just in front of the rear axel, it doesn't seem so large that I'd be losing a ton of back pressure. I could easily secure the loose exhaust pipe and keep anything from rattling around.

Do you guys see any issues should I decide to do this? Just don't know if I feel like forking over cash for a new exhaust or having the break patched/welded. Is driving without an axel back going to kill MPG or mess up the back pressure of the exhaust system?

Looking forward to the input fellas. And yes, I realize it will sound louder.

If the sound level is "OK" and not something you will get nailed for, my biggest worry would be getting the exhaust extended out from under the body so there is less of a hazard from carbon monoxide or damaging anything from the exhaust heat where it shouldn't be.

As to the reduction in back pressure, I'd go ahead and run it for a while and keep close track of how the engine feels and performs - I would suspect the engine could withstand the reduction in normal use.

BTW, I am in no way any sort of "expert" - that is just my thoughts on your questions.

Take care,
Tom

BTW, did you notice the Cyclops Gremlin hiding behind your axle?

http://tijil.org/gremlin01.jpg

ha.

Take it to a local muffler shop if you decide to keep it attached. They shouldn't charge that much to weld it closed or if necessary replace the pipe.

I ran my 05 with out an axle back for a little while when I first bought it till I got to the shop. I did not see anything really bad, after getting a muffler put on I did notice that I had lost a good bit of low end torque when I was running nothing. But I say try it and see how you like it, it may be just fine for you.

And if you decide to leave it I say just get you a piece of pipe or tip that is a turn down, so the fumes and some of the heat at least goes to the ground first. And like you said make sure it does not rattle around too much.

if you can deal with some lost acceleration it is all good