I think I hit a curb... (Page 1/3)
Cliff Pennock OCT 12, 06:52 AM
...or something.

I got my car back from the garage today, and when I was home I noticed this:



I asked the garage about it and they said the exhaust was like this when they got it. I believe them since they could have easily repaired it if they did it themselves but mostly because I remember backing up and hitting a curb a few days before I brought them my car. I have backed up into a curb before and never had any damage so this time I didn't check for any damage.

By the looks of it, It weren't the tips that hit the curb (since I see no damage there) but rather the pipe itself. So how can I straighten this? Simply try to bend it back?
olejoedad OCT 12, 07:02 AM
Get it on a lift to inspect the exhaust system.

Once the bent area is identified, use an oxy/acetylene torch to heat the area and a long pipe in the exhaust to bend the tips back to where they belong.

It's usually a two man job, your shop should be able to handle the job.

I've done the same thing to my car in the past.
82-T/A [At Work] OCT 12, 07:56 AM

quote
Originally posted by Cliff Pennock:

...or something.

I got my car back from the garage today, and when I was home I noticed this:

I asked the garage about it and they said the exhaust was like this when they got it. I believe them since they could have easily repaired it if they did it themselves but mostly because I remember backing up and hitting a curb a few days before I brought them my car. I have backed up into a curb before and never had any damage so this time I didn't check for any damage.

By the looks of it, It weren't the tips that hit the curb (since I see no damage there) but rather the pipe itself. So how can I straighten this? Simply try to bend it back?




Looks like you can kind of see where the "trumpet" on the right side has some concrete still around the exhaust opening where it might have gouged it out.


But I know... just one more thing! Is the car driving a lot better after the work?
cartercarbaficionado OCT 12, 12:25 PM

quote
Originally posted by Cliff Pennock:

...or something.

I got my car back from the garage today, and when I was home I noticed this:



I asked the garage about it and they said the exhaust was like this when they got it. I believe them since they could have easily repaired it if they did it themselves but mostly because I remember backing up and hitting a curb a few days before I brought them my car. I have backed up into a curb before and never had any damage so this time I didn't check for any damage.

By the looks of it, It weren't the tips that hit the curb (since I see no damage there) but rather the pipe itself. So how can I straighten this? Simply try to bend it back?


you could heat it but I would remove the tip and then use a nice large socket and extension to bend the muffler straight again and then work on getting the tip correct. if you didn't want gt tips I have a set of good condition formula tips somewhere
RWDPLZ OCT 12, 03:24 PM
Looks like the whole exhaust system is sagging down and back on the driver's side. Have to get it back up into the air to check. Hanger may have fallen off or bent.
Patrick OCT 12, 05:54 PM

Are the driver's side tips cocked off as well? If so, I'd suspect the entire exhaust system has been twisted.

It would be helpful to see a low angle shot of the whole back of the car.
Vintage-Nut OCT 13, 09:50 AM

quote
Cliff Pennock:
I got the car back yesterday {Oct 11} / they also made some pictures while they were working on the car:







[This message has been edited by Vintage-Nut (edited 10-13-2024).]

Cliff Pennock OCT 13, 12:36 PM
Good catch!

But... how the hell did that happen? Is that the weakest points? Also, When I (try to) bend it back, will there still be a big dent? And is this restricting exhaust flow much?
RWDPLZ OCT 13, 02:07 PM
Probably like you said, hit a curb. I'd try laying under the car and put a C-Clamp on the wide ends and squeeze it back into shape. It's not restricting it much, but the hot tip might be burning the bumper.
Patrick OCT 13, 03:19 PM

quote
Originally posted by Cliff Pennock:

But... how the hell did that happen?



Cliff, it's very difficult to imagine that you wouldn't have noticed the passenger side tips being cocked off to one side like that if it was bent that way before you dropped off your car at the shop. Yet, it's plainly obvious that the pipe was bent before the cradle was dropped. So... you didn't do it after you got the car back. I suspect someone at the shop bent it while they were maneuvering the car in the shop.