Helmholtz Midpipe keeps breaking

mephisto2020 · Postby **mephisto2020** » Wed Oct 09, 2019 9:26 am

Hi all,
So I have an issue I haven't read about or known about when I build my car...

The Helmholtz resonator chamber on my Helmholtz midpipe from GWR, it breaks off the midpipe, as it's this heavy thing hanging off of the side of the exhaust with no support.

Has anyone else experienced this???

I spent a lot on GWR exhaust parts, and this happens. So far it's been repaired twice, it broke again. All within 100km of each other (It's a barely used weekend car). I don't drive it hard. This is getting groceries or a nice meal on a weekend. Overall I've had the midpipe for only maybe 1000km at most, too.

Anyone know my options? Remove the resonator and weld it up? I'm assuming the warranty would not help here so I wasted my money

. WIll it sound that much worse with the resonator/chamber removed?

Thanks

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Wed Oct 09, 2019 10:28 am

Have you reached out to Goodwin (I assume GWR is Goodwin Racing)? They may have heard of similar issues and know of a solution.

Sounds like it needs additional support, is there anywhere you could add an exhaust hanger for it?

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Wed Oct 09, 2019 2:57 pm

Just had a look on GWR site to see what this is ... that's a big bit of pipe!! Have you taken it to an exhaust specialist to see what they can do? Certainly looks like it would require an extra support added.

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mephisto2020 · Postby **mephisto2020** » Thu Oct 10, 2019 6:14 pm

Have you reached out to Goodwin (I assume GWR is Goodwin Racing)? They may have heard of similar issues and know of a solution.

Sounds like it needs additional support, is there anywhere you could add an exhaust hanger for it?

I have reached out, sent an email but no reply yet. I was unsure if they could offer a solution. It's a pain as the car that otherwise has every part in perfect nick as it's barely dríven, has this midpipe that falls apart every few drives, and it's barely been dríven, and never hard.

The exhaust place I went to (Castle Hill exhaust - who have a decent reputation), has said that they could put a hanger on the separate section however there might still be the same issue as the two sections heat/expand at different rates and having a hanger on the side part that's very heavy could cause it to break just the same. Their suggestion was just to remove it in which case - it's like a $1000 straight section of exhaust and giant waste of money and time sourcing this in Australia.

Just had a look on GWR site to see what this is ... that's a big bit of pipe!! Have you taken it to an exhaust specialist to see what they can do? Certainly looks like it would require an extra support added.

My specialist recommended if it breaks again, instead of spending another $80 to re-weld it/repair it again just cut it off and seal it. In the end I could have had a straight pipe bought for like under the cost of the repairs so far so I'm not happy about having bought this, and wondering if the other $2k+ of GWR exhaust parts will break soon, too?

Custardtart · Postby **Custardtart** » Sat Oct 12, 2019 8:10 am

I run a straight mid pipe with a RoadsterSport Q muffler and don't get the dreaded drone. In fact it sounds awesome!

If you can weld it and support it then great but I'd be chasing GWR for a refund. It's such a pain having to deal with US companies here. I had a number of parts from GWR that didn't fit a right hand drive NC without modification.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Sat Oct 12, 2019 1:51 pm

And that's the thing - they are a US company designing parts primarily for LHD cars. I bet there's a disclaimer somewhere about use on RHD cars.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Sat Oct 12, 2019 8:03 pm

I don't really see why LHD or RHD would affect the mid pipe. To me it's the weight of that pipe. There's no real support on it. Searching around the net I've seen that some of them for other vehicles have extra supports welded at each end and/or the middle and I can't see why an exhaust shop couldn't add (at a cost) extra support. Interestingly, I haven't found any other posts anywhere about these breaking, only about them hanging too low due to incorrect fitment.

"Custardtart"...your's sounds great!!