PRL Motorsports Front Pipe - Fitment Rattle - Installation error?

Myx said:

Glad you mentioned it. First I've read about this. I've had the rubber insert replaced. The hanger is going through it now, from looking down through the engine bay. Looking up from the bottom would give me a better look at it though. Thanks for sharing!

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Yeah it sucks but I was hoping It would fit everything in place but that's not the case. Maybe i got a bad one. I bought it when it first came out. Overall I'm please with the performance with my setup but I feel like RV6 front and down pipe quality control is better. I had their down pipe and it felt/ look amazing.

ecarranza11 said:

Hey I had a shop install my downpipe and frontpipe as well, when I drove off I have no problems until a couple days later I kept hearing the fringing noise.

I was on the list of preorders when the products just came out and I have a CVT.

Today I finally had time to lift my car and see where the noise was coming from and it's the same spot as @Myx

What can I do to fix this problem?

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You may need to drop the front pipe and remove the metal ring gasket that will be on the exhaust side of the front pipe as this will cause a rattling sound under load.

MacKharoni said:

Yeah it sucks but I was hoping It would fit everything in place but that's not the case. Maybe i got a bad one. I bought it when it first came out. Overall I'm please with the performance with my setup but I feel like RV6 front and down pipe quality control is better. I had their down pipe and it felt/ look amazing.

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Thanks for the feedback here. This is the first front pipe hanger issue we have had to date that we know of were a customer had to modify this part and we have quite a bit of front pipes on the market. We fit our pipes in a jig to ensure optimal fitment.

This is my is 2nd Front pipe. It has been removed and now I have the stock front pipe in place along with my stock exhaust. Unfortunately, I have not had any luck with this piece. I may try another sometime in the future.

This is with the catalytic converter 'stays' (bracket) properly installed. The front pipe is still functional.

My car is stock and I don't have any I/H/E mods yet, but it's pretty cool to see companies like @PRL Motorsports so active in the forums to address potential issues head-on. Says alot IMO

Myx said:

This is my is 2nd Front pipe. It has been removed and now I have the stock front pipe in place along with my stock exhaust. Unfortunately, I have not had any luck with this piece. I may try another sometime in the future.

This is with the catalytic converter 'stays' (bracket) properly installed. The front pipe is still functional.

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Not sure what the fitment issue could be on our front pipe for your civic that could be causing the rubbing as we have hundreds of these on the market that have not had any whatsoever if installed properly. During install you can adjust the DP/FP in unison to create about a 1/4 inch gap all around is the best way to approach putting on our exhaust components. Let us know or reach out to us if you have any further questions regarding this, we'd be happy to assist!

PRL Motorsports said:

Not sure what the fitment issue could be on our front pipe for your civic that could be causing the rubbing as we have hundreds of these on the market that have not had any whatsoever if installed properly. During install you can adjust the DP/FP in unison to create about a 1/4 inch gap all around is the best way to approach putting on our exhaust components. Let us know or reach out to us if you have any further questions regarding this, we'd be happy to assist!

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I have no questions at this time. This was my 2nd approach to resolving it, learning that the first time around the cat converter 'stays' (brackets) were either not installed back on or installed on the wrong side of the cat converter. This time around, this wasn't the case. And I had two shops look into it (that do all my installs that I don't do myself).

Just sharing my experience with this with the community. If there is something that can go wrong with fitment, then the shops would probably do better with installation instructions. It seems simple to do (unbolting and bolting back into place) but it seems that these same people/shops keep getting it wrong, despite this being something they do all the time in their line of work. So...I'll leave it at that. It was a fun run. Thanks!

BTW: Not knocking your products. I have purchased your CAI, Race Maf, CVT Cooler, Downpipe and two front pipes. This is just the reality of this situation that I have encountered. If others run into something similar, I'm sure a resolution will arise.

Same issue here. I love PRL but I don't think a moderator should post installation error when the moderator doesn't know if it is an installation error.

I have the same issue. I here metal buzzing on heavy deceleration at 1800, 3200, 3800, 4200 RPMs. Some times it feels sluggish etc during the vibration / noise. Totally takes away from the good sound.

According to shop I just got back from, it's an issue with the flex portion of the pipe. I don't know how much I believe that but just figured I'd share here. I'll try to fiddle with it when I get home tonight. If nothing changes, I'll put the stock front pipe back on.

I read some CTR’s had this same issue and PRL reccomended a new stiffer motor mount to help. So I Installed the Hasport rear motor mount just a moment ago. Drove the car pretty hard, decelerated hard, etc... can’t hear a single rattle.

I’ll keep reporting back but this seems, seems to have solved it 100%. If that’s the case this isn’t an installation error and should be a recommended product associated with this front pipe.

q

booost said:

I read some CTR’s had this same issue and PRL reccomended a new stiffer motor mount to help. So I Installed the Hasport rear motor mount just a moment ago. Drove the car pretty hard, decelerated hard, etc... can’t hear a single rattle.

I’ll keep reporting back but this seems, seems to have solved it 100%. If that’s the case this isn’t an installation error and should be a recommended product associated with this front pipe.

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Thanks posting this up. I agree with the recommendation if that would help those who encounter this problem. Perhaps this resolution is still in a 'trial' phase still, to verify if it works on anyone who has this issue.

It's also interesting to know that I/we perhaps would need a stiffer motor mount than even the CTR has. I don't want any extra vibrations in my cabin. Perhaps a compromise would simply be a smaller front pipe (2.5" vs 3") **Although I know neither are needed with the stock turbo**.

Myx said:

q


Thanks posting this up. I agree with the recommendation if that would help those who encounter this problem. Perhaps this resolution is still in a 'trial' phase still, to verify if it works on anyone who has this issue.

It's also interesting to know that I/we perhaps would need a stiffer motor mount than even the CTR has. I don't want any extra vibrations in my cabin. Perhaps a compromise would simply be a smaller front pipe (2.5" vs 3") **Although I know neither are needed with the stock turbo**.

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absolutely bro, thanks to you for posting this initially, it helped me know that I wasn’t alone and put me on a path to research more. Thank you for that.

I’m pretty confident my issue is solved, I mean not even a little slight rattle at all... windows up or down, heavy decel or accel.

I think the stock mounts just allow too much movement with a 3” pipe that’s pretty tight fitting as it is.

for context, I have a downpipe, frontpipe, exhaust back from frontpipe, tune, intake, etc.... I think it’s just too much power on the stock mounts.

honestly though the RMM is probably one of my favorite mods so far. I got the Hasport 62 which is stiff but not stiff stiff like an 82 or whatever. It feels so much better. I’d give it a shot if you can.

I am having this issue now after installing my front pipe. I checked the stay brackets and they are just like the pic. I did not loosen my downpipe to install the front pipe because thats ridiculous and it wasnt rattling before .. I dont know what the hell to do its driving me crazy. I installed perrin motor mount inserts and that took the banging noise away but now during hard downshift or holding high rpm I get a crazy vibrating. I am really sick of this shit. I loosened everything and tightened it.. everything is correct. I am really over this shit. Any help would be great..

I had to remove the thin heatshields above the mufflers to get rid of most of the noise. Does anyone know if this is alright? They dont seem like they do much anyway. I double checked everything from the downpipe to the exhaust. Everything was bolted and positioned correctly but I was still getting a slight rattle in situations and a slight bang noise on a real big bump. The only thing I could find close to hitting was the heatshields above the mufflers, it basically got rid of the noise. I tried bending them up but it was still hitting.

just did a V1 install. The flex joint it scary close to the engine. The hanger is stretched. The head shield cannot be screwed back in on the first two holes. It presses hard against the front pipe at the front. Damn. @PRL Motorsports

ManitobaSI said:

just did a V1 install. The flex joint it scary close to the engine. The hanger is stretched. The head shield cannot be screwed back in on the first two holes. It presses hard against the front pipe at the front. Damn. @PRL Motorsports

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Hey there, sorry to see you are having some troubles with this install. Try loosening up the downpipe bolts and try rotating a little bit and that should solve your issues. Also which exhaust are you running on the car? That could also be causing you some fitment problems as well.