Am I imagining things, or is my exhaust a bit off kilter? If so, what is a likely cause (and remedy)?







And should the tips have so much carbon build-up?

It's an '04 with 44K miles.

 

Actually, your car is crooked and the exhaust is perfectly in line with the rest of the world!

After no help in my sarcastic response, somebody please help!

 

They do look a little too much to the right and the right one is lower than the left. My right was slightly lower than my left -- I am talking the S tale pipes, here ---- and I just grabbed them and pushed them into allignment. Yours look more off, though.

 

Yup, thats crooked. Looks like your heat shield is off kilter too.
Is your left control arm not rusty and your right one is? That looks odd also. Is the car new to you? Ever been hit?

 

Good point. I didn't notice that. The left definitely looks like a new part.

 

... add to that your resonator on the right is hanging way low. Maybe the mount is not connected on that side causing the left muffler to tilt thus causing your tips to be off. Something is really off about that entire setup.

 

I've had it for a little over a year, and I just never really took a close look at the pipes until yesterday, when it just jumped out at me!

I don't think the car has been hit, but I guess I'll crawl under tonight and have a closer look...

 

There is a dent, on the bottom of the left muffler.
This is what pushed the exhaust up and to the right.

I have a few used ones, you are welcome to have one, for free

Victor

 

Left-overs from the one-ball MOD?

 

No way,

just left overs from Larini exhaust installations,

We have no use for the factory exhausts, so we just send them to the crusher.

Victor

 

Ah... good to know. Cool!

 

Good catch Mini Works. I didn't see that dent. Something like that probably bent the upper mount causing the problem. If that was my Mini I'd crawl under there and take a look at whats going on. Still makes me wonder about that non rusty control arm. Fishy that is...

 

Thanks for all the replies!

I just crawled under the car, and... nothing seems out of place

No obvious dents, scrapes, or otherwise. There is no rust on the control arms; I think from the pic above what appears to be a "rusty" control arm (on the right) is actually just the brown wall of my garage viewed at an angle. From behind, you can't actually see the control arm because it's hidden by the muffler.

I tried pushing it back in place, but no luck there. Granted, I wasn't using excessive force, so maybe with more perseverence I could get it level again.

Actually, there was some scraping on the bottom of the exhaust tips, but even that was not particularly deep. Maybe someone put a jack in the wrong spot??

 

Thanks very much for the offer! However, if I'm going to go to the trouble of replacing the exhaust, I'll just upgrade it to something else...

 

Oh thats good news... just the photo playing tricks. I think the only way you'll be able to straighten it is to remove it and bend the bracket back. Might as well go for a new one since you're halfway there!

 

you just send them to the crusher?? i was looking for free ones. and was waitin for them to pop up. but since you're just throwing them out. mind if i snag one off of you? preferably the ones after 04.
but shipping...is gonna suck. get back to me!
im trying to do the one ball mod. but im afraid i wont like it. and might want to switch back later on. or just in general have my original stock one to switch back to.
pm sent also.

 

We crush 10 a month,

So let me know if anyone else is interested in free stock exhausts.

Victor

 

Just to update this thread, because I'm sure no one has slept while waiting for the results...

Took it in to the dealer, and they replaced the hangar and some other bits that had gone their own way. It was all covered under warranty (whew!) and now it's back the way it should be.

Guess that takes away my excuse for a new exhaust