Hot steering rack gaiters?

[cardiffrob]

Hopefully you can see the problem...

The new exhaust system runs a bit too close to the steering rack for my liking. The rack is fully retracted in this pic with the track rod end uncoupled from the wheel end. What is the collective wisdom on heat-proofing the gaiters? Should I wrap the pipe with lagging, fudge some sort of heatshield from the bodywork or maybe even hang a shield from the exhaust clamp? Would exhaust gasket paper be a suitable shield material?

 

[AndyStobbs]

Steel disc on the track rod?

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I assume this it the other side of the pipework -

Personally I'd reroute the exhaust to provide more clearance. Cut downpipe below the 4-1 junction and add another couple of inches so it clears the steering tie rod.
Also my experience of flexi pipe is that unless stainless it will rust very quickly with being exposed to spray from wheels so I'd change that for a solid pipe with just a short, say 12" length of flexi just to absorb any vibrations.

 

[Spark plug]

How Mitch clearance have you got when in the worst possible position? With the steering on full lock with the suspension hanging down.

 

[cardiffrob]

Worst case is about an inch of space on the new manifold and there is scope for an absolute maximum of 2 inches if I cut the whole thing about and re-welded. The flexi is stainless, about 12 inches long and of decent quality. It has to be there really since the rest of the exhaust is hung quite close to the floor to give a bit more ground clearance.

The original factory version is not much further away and has already been through a few gaiters in its' time, judging by the boxes in the boot when we bought it. Not a great design!

 

[cardiffrob]

Andy. Do you mean something like a halved baked bean tin to shield the underside of the gaiter and fixed to the track rod arm?

 

[p0689109]

firesleevingandtape.com have a good selection of heat resistant insulating tape.

 

[AndyStobbs]

I was thinking something more like the baked bean can lid, with a little flare on it to wrap around the gaiter end a little.

 

[cardiffrob]

Ah, right. In the pic at the top it is retracted but when it is extended outwards the gaiter sits with almost all of it exposed to the heat so it would need to cover the whole of the gaiter rather than just a short shield at the end. The trackrod end doesn't get close enough to be a problem.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aluminium...hash=item41975ade1d:m:mU4vC1-wgsUCIllwSEE2E6Q

This sort of stuff any good to slip over the gaiter?

 

[paceman1]

that other pipe near the back manifold needs re routing or its going to get really hot

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Cut a hole in the underpan and drop downpipe through that before 90 degree bend rearwards ?

 

[cardiffrob]

Paceman. Agreed, however, it has been like that since somewhere back in the 1950's. Only 35000 miles on that car.

Compo. Sadly not an option. It would foul the suspension on droop. The only reasonable options are covering the pipe (lagging) or covering the gaiter. I'm not sure how effective the lagging is or whether it affects the material of the pipe unduly.

I have some E-glass mat with an aluminised layer on it. I assume it can be stitched into a tube and fixed at one end to the trackrod arm? Would it survive?

 

[cardiffrob]

How about a 6" square of steel drilled all over with 1/8" holes, curled into a tube with a slit down one side, steel pop rivets set from the outside to provide short legs inside the tube, placed over the stainless exhaust pipe section where it goes near the gaiter and then wrapped with exhaust wrap and a couple of large Jubilee clips? Should keep the exhaust pipe from getting cooked and still give a heat shield effect.

 

[colnerov]

Hi, I would suggest a heatshield on the exhaust rather than the gaiter. Just a semi circle or flat spaced about ½" away from the pipe will be enough.

 

[123hotchef]

yeh i agree lag the exhaust in the kind of heat wrap that track cars use ect

 

[123hotchef]

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Produ...& Protection&gclid=CN32nu_6g8wCFUJmGwodSx4OGQ

 

[cardiffrob]

Doesn't that stuff kill the pipe through overheating? I assumed it was for 'limited lifespan' manifolds suck as track cars. If it isn't going to kill the pipe then I'll use some of that stuff.

 

[Robotstar5]

Get the pipe ceramic coated? - link

 

[AndyStobbs]

Audi TT's have a lot of heat reflective material on and around the turbo. You could use something like that maybe, either on the pipe or the gaiter.

 

[Turbo]

Heat wrapping the exhaust is very effective & is used on many competition cars as well as performance road cars. It often gives a performance advantage as a hot exhaust flows better. I can't see how it would shorten the life of your exhaust as they generally rot from the inside due to moisture but the flexi is stainless so you don't have that problem!