[jagcars26]

I recently acquired a set of Borla's lastest generation ,used(1mo) and allready wrapped.Previous owner thought them too loud.
Anyway i know Borlas got the bad rep with cracking and broken welds.Looking at the headers the week link on the welds seems to me to be betwwen the pipe and the header flage at the head(4 spot welds per tube).The c ollector at the bottem end has a continuos weld and looks ok.
My question is ,has anybody beefed up the welds??This seems to me to be maybe an answer to the poor welding issue.Iknow the brace near the collector is a weak link also.When it cracks ther does it put a hole in the pipe?or is it just the brace comin apart?
My friend is a welder so i have acccess to getting this done on the cheap
I was just wondering what you guys and gals think.Any comments would be appreciated but let's not turn this into a Borla bashing session.
Thanks in advance

 

[STiShawn]

The weak link is at the strap that supports and ties the tubes together..mine have cracked 3 times now at the same spot....Im throwing this piece of shit out.....

 

[jagcars26]

Shawn,,,Yeah i know that spot,the plate is welded to the header just uppipe from the collector .When the weld breaks it doesnt cause a hole in the pipe does it?? My fix fr that would be a large radiator clamp wrappped around both pipes to relieve some of th stress at that point.On mine ,that has allready been done with the header wrap.Think that would help??Believe me i know the Borlas are no piece of craftmanship but I got these right and am lookin to make them work.
thanks

 

[Poppa Smurf]

Would you have to take off the wrap to weld the headers? If so I don’t see the harm in doing them all over again wouldn’t take to long for a good wielder. What could it hurt and you would get to do the wrap all over again and take car of any mistakes you see (if there are any) now. I attached a picture of where mine cracked after about a month borla has since stopped putting that little plate there and these were the gen 3’s I guess I have the gen 4’s since they replaced them for free but I think wrapping the headers nullifies that but I am going to wrap mine anyways I think. Getting them coated seems like a lot of money when I a trying to save up for a yummy cam to help my baby breath better. Over on I-Club bugbomb made a clip of a MRT full exhaust comparison to the borla, random tech, Stromsung combo which he used my car for the clip

 

[jagcars26]

Ive got the plate so these must be Gen. 3s also.Does the pipe split when it cracks or does the plate just come unglued (unwelded)???The other weak link i see is at the head flange,the pipes only seem to be spot welded in four spots per pipe.Im figurin on havin a full bead run around the pipe to the flange on the outside.
Thanks again

 

[Poppa Smurf]

I am pretty sure the pipe splits above the plate since when looking from the top you could see the black on the inside of the plate as well as hear it. I Think running a bead would be a good idea and may save you hassle in the long run.

 

[STiShawn]

it does cause a hole in the tube, and it cracks again in a different spot after you fix it the first, second and now third time....

 

[littlepest]

STiShawn,

Why dont you try to contact Borla and see if they will replace the header for you. I have heard about different people having them replaced for free. I dont know what the stipulations are but contact them and find out. I would if I were you.

Kristi

 

[STiShawn]

Its worth a try, but they probably wont due to my EGT bung in it...modification of parts voids warranty.

 

[STiShawn]

Borla is shipping me a new header as we speak, no problems, no hassle. Now if they're parts are as good as their service, Im happy as a clam. We'll see if the Gen. 4 headers are better than my Gen. 3...they say 2 1/2 weeks for it to arrive....I will keep you posted.

 

[littlepest]

I am glad it worked out for you. Yes please let us know how the new headers work out. I am interested in the Borla headers as well but I have been putting off getting them because of the problems I keep reading about. So let me know.

Kristi

 

[Poppa Smurf]

I am very happy with both borla’s service and product. After a month of having them on and having them crack I emailed them got a response that day and the new headers where shipped out next day arrived in a little over a week but the old headers into the box that the new ones came in and send them back I think all they asked for was a credit card to make sure you sent the other set back. No problems as of right now.

 

[STiShawn]

they never asked for my CC....I love the sound and the pull, but my fit and finish was horrid, 6 hours for a header install!? Come on Borla....I had to redrill the flange holes for the head just to get them to fit....even then they were kitty whumpus

 

[Poppa Smurf]

I did mine in our pit took me about 1/2 hour but then again I could stand up. It did take a little gentle persuasion though

 

[Supapooh]

I just bought a set of borlas second hand. The fit and finish on them is good. Not great but good. Definently nothing like some of the horror stories Ive heard. Took me about an hour to install laying on my back in 40 degree weather. I'm pleased but I forgot to plug an egt hole so now I have a funny sounding leak.

 

[jagcars26]

Ok another exhaust related question fr those with a Random tech cat.This is fr Poppa Smurf probably.
Where the cat pipe meets the midpipe(stromung),is there supposed to be a gasket on there like the stock setup.The stock one has that hard donut of gasket.The random tech has a flange type fitting, male into female kind thing.Should there be something between the two??
And thanks everone fr your help,,before i bolt these on I wanna make sure there allright.

 

[Supapooh]

I never noticed a donut on mine......hmm might account for the awful noise.

 

[jagcars26]

Yep mines loud too,,the stock ones got it but the random tech one didnt come with one.(gasket of sorts).
Mine's definately got a leak there.
We need HELP,,somebodys gotta know this..lol

 

[Supapooh]

At idle in the car it sounds really good with a nice rumble. Open the door you can hear somethings not right. Driving at 3000 rpm its great. But decel or accel and it sounds like a vw bus.......I hope thats not normal

 

[Supapooh]

well I found the leak. It's coming from the joint where the midpipe and the second cat meet. The bolts are as tight as they can be. It looks like the header pushed the cat up at a weird angle. What do I do now? I tried beating/prying/pulling. I even asked it real nice. I don't want to sound like a volkswagon bug.