F430 Header Failure (it CAN happen to you!)

I too am waiting for this answer. My 2002 360 headers are stock with test pipes, O2 extenders and Tubi exhaust. Should I just remove support brackets or plan on replacing the headers? Or, just smoke test annually and change headers when they fail? I have ~27K on car.

 

Yes many of us have just removed the lower brackets.

 

Your 360 does not have any lower brackets hence why the 430 doesn't need them. 360 also does not have anywhere near the same incidence of header failure as the 430. Why? because they don't have the lower brackets that hold the system rigid stressing the headers.

 

Do you replace them with the Fabspeed Mounts or other aftermarket mounts, or just no replacement at all? Is there any risk to having no mounts at all?

 

Just remove them. The 360 does not have them and it has a much bigger heavier muffler. I think you meant capristo mounts which some like and some don't.

 

replacing them with the Fabspeed mounts recreates the same problem x2, no gearbox mounts at all, so the exhaust can expand

 

I know your not a big Fabspeed fan, but the Fabspeed mounts do allow play. They support in the vertical and bend in the horizontal and have are mounted with a wave washer. The stock don’t flex they just crack.

The Fabspeed just don’t flex as much as the capristo retrofit, FYI the ones with their own exhaust are different. The capristo retrofit attaches your exhaust to the rear body of your car and don’t seem to offer as much vertical support. Personally I don’t know if I want them connected that way. If your engine mounts ever start going it will put a lot of strain on your headers when you shift and the engine moves until it’s fixed. That movement would be very abnormal to the headers.

I also think there is some flex relief on the headers/manifold when you have stock cats as I remember my mechanic showing me there are some springs in those mounts.


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well as long as you dont tighten up at all the U bolt clamps you will be fine, but they are called U bolt clamps, not supports. Why dont you message Fabspeed and ask them if they recommend that you leave the U bolts loose, which will then rattle. The moment you tighten them up and restrict the exhaust from expanding, it will break, just like the factory brackets. No rocket science here