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MG MGF Technical - Exhaust strap - is it needed?

I have just got a Miltek SP exhaust for my TF160. Jacked the car up last night to have a go at fitting. Although the car is only 8 months old the cat nuts are well rusted. Even though I could get a 15mm ring on the nuts I couldn't budge them so have given them a liberal spraying of WD40 ready for another attempt tonight or over the weekend. (I've got the MS 'cat saver' nuts ready to put back in their place).

My question:

My car has the the exhaust strap round the back box which is supported by two of the studs on the 'front' end of the cat. If the dimensions of the Miltek are the same as the OE box I will put it back on but if the strap does not fit tightly round the Miltek will it be safe to leave the strap off? I know some 'F's had the strap and others didn't but I don't know the relative weights of the two boxes (until I get it off).

Anyone changed the box on their TF?

Norman
Norman

Not done one on a TF (yet ;))but did one on my F. Ended up leving the strap of, shouldn't be a problem so long as the rubber mounts are in good condition.
Halfrauds do some adjustable exhaust straps, maybe you could get one to fit?
PS. Try PlusGas instead of WD40, I find its far better, even freed up my cat nuts that had 6 years worth of rust!
Steve White

Norman,

The SP/Miltek was originally supplied with a strap, i assume as you haven't got one that it no longer is. This i would take as a tacit acknowledgement from Miltek that it is not needed.

Personally, the MS system i have on Scarlet doesn't have a strap and is fine after 5 years or so (1998, Brooklands display arena IIRC).

SF
Scarlet Fever

I fitted my SP exhaust without the strap, and it has been fine for more than 3 years.
The Miltek/SP isn't the same dimension as the OE exhaust, the OE strap will be too large to fit around the Miltek/SP.

BTW, I wonder if the strap is rather a support for the cat, or for the back box...
Fabrice

Thanks all for you comments.

My main concern was that the strap would help locate the box laterally (ie under heavy cornering).

Tim Woolcott had a nasty experience with his after market exhaust (don't think it was a Miltek) at the Rockingham track day when the lateral force caused the support hooks to 'unhook themselves', the box then dropped onto the rear bumber and melted it's way through.

I'm booked for a couple more track days with 'MGs on Track' and I didn't want the same thing happening to me.

Norman
Norman

Not all replacement exhausts have these straps - Mike Satur's and Janspeed's don't, for example. The purpose of the OE strap probably has some role in locating it ans supporting the system under heavy cornering - but it may also be used to stiffen the joints between the catalyst and echaust pipe flanges. I don't know the answer.

Tim's exhaust fell off its mountings because the hangers were too small for the purpose. These have since been replaced. So from this point of view, I don't think you need to worry too much about this happening to you with the Milltek you've just purchased.
Rob Bell

i havn't strap on mine either,i still have the strap, but it wouldn't line up correctly on sp exhaust when fitted, have had no probs though,and do have a check now and again ,but all seems fine, Dave T6 DCM.
DC Morris

Final update:

Decided to let a garage do the job, cost me 2 hours labour but after standing and watching him do it I'm glad that I did.

He had to use heat to release the cat nuts (both ends), surprised as the cars only 8 months old. The studs are attached to the OE box and would not come out so he had to use new bolts but he fitted the MS 'cat savers' at both ends of the cat.

The Miltek has hooks at both ends of the box that hook up onto the original mounts. The hooks are welded onto brackets that have elongated holes to allow for vertical adjustment to centre the tail pipes in the circular cut-outs in the rear bumper. The brackets supplied would not allow the tail pipes to be lifted high enough off of the bumper he had to grind the welds to release the hooks from the bracket and re-weld them about half an inch higher.

Your right Fabrice the OE strap is too large to clamp round the Miltek so I have left it off but I'm not 100% happy with this as the exhaust does have more lateral play so I think I'll see if I can modify the OE strap to suit.

Anyway I hope this helps anyone else considering changing the TF exhaust, particularly for a Miltek.

Oh... and finally it sounds awesome.

Thanks again everyone for you input.

Norman
Norman

Rob,<Mike Satur's and Janspeed's don't, for example.>
wrong information.
Mike
mike

http://www.mikesatur.co.uk/images/daytonax1.jpg
Should show the strap on our 'new' system.
To answer Norman's question it depends on the design.
HTH Mike.
mike

:o)

I didn't know that your new one did Mike - just going from what I had previously seen - as your system on my car doesn't have one ;o)

Why do some designs use the straps whilst other's don't Mike?
Rob Bell

Norman

My Milltek came with the support bracket so I am surprised that yours didn't. Have you checked with Milltek to see if there should be one?
Blue Pocket Rocket

Yes I've emailed them on Saturday about the strap and the lack of adjustment on the support brackets. No word yet. I'll keep you posted.

Norman
Norman

Mike,

What is the necessity for the strap?

Tim
tim woolcott

Received reply from Milltek. They are fabricating new hangers for me.

They also say that there should have been a strap with the exhaust so I will be talking to Moss to try and get one.
Norman

This thread was discussed between 27/06/2003 and 04/07/2003

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