Back Box advice

[MULLEY]

I need to replace the rear back box of my exhaust, its rusted to bits. Is it easy to replace by a novice as myself? or by the time i've paid for a back box, clamps etc...it may be just as cheap to get the job done by one of those chain exhaust/tyre places? Any ideas of which chains one's are the best on price/quality?

[Tim Leech]

Get a price from the local tyre place mate and see how you get on, I can get you a rear box for about £25 ish trade if you want one and they are easy to fit as long as the old one comes off easy, but if you can get it fitted locally for about £35-40 I would save myself the hassle.

The ONLY problem with them places is they will tell you that you need 4 new tyres, a complete nex exhaust brakes etc etc....

[kiwi]

Its called Hassle Factor

Depends how rusted it is etc etc etc as to how easy for you to DIY the replacement. Problem is you may end up finding you need to replace the second box as well, with all the twisting to remove the first. To be honest if you are going to do the job yourself then it would be worthwhile to replace the whole rear section of Exhaust. Cheaper in the long run although does not seem like that!

The so called Tyre and Exhaust specialist have to be watched like a Hawk and TOLD bluntly what you want done, not what they want you have done. Always sticks in my mind a few years ago being told that my exhaust system which had a small hole welded in it would not last 6 months Lets put it this was it lasted 6 years and nearly 100,000km since then and is still going strong.

[MULLEY]

Bloomin back box fell off this morning whilst on my way to work Only good bit was seeing the chap running at the side of the road to me kinda leap out of the way of my flying exhaust

Do i need to replace it with a specific make regarding quality, or will any old thing do? What i don't want to do is save just a few quid & find that the replacement box reduces the cars power than a decent one, afterall i've only got 71bhp to play with anyway

[Tim Leech]

They will all be pattern parts, if you get a walker or bosal one you shouldnt go far wrong.

[citronut]

i have two brand new old stock OE saloon rear box's, for all saloon,s except GTI,VALVERS, and TURBO'd

Tim did ear mark one, so the other is there if anyone rquires it 20 quid pluss carridge

regards malcolm

[mat_fenwick]

The ONLY problem with them places is they will tell you that you need 4 new tyres, a complete new exhaust brakes etc etc....

Not the ONLY problem - my experience was that they employed (barely) trained monkeys to do the work, and if an exhaust was slightly difficult to remove they would take a large hammer to it and beat seven shade of shite out of it till it came apart, or another part of it broke.
Quality wise I've found the biggest difference to be lifespan rather than power differences, but Bosal seem to be better than some. OE is usually better, that said my OE backbox (£10 eBay bargain) isn't faring too well!

[Aerodynamica]

I'd say it's pretty easy to change so long as you have the car up on ramps and take your time getting out the inevitably rusty bits of pipe stuck in the middle section.

You might need to replace the rubber hangers too if it fell off.

Anyway, it is easy - just ensure you have it at the right angle (axially) before tightening the clamps as I had mine off and then tightened it only to find that it was sitting too low as a result but ran out of time to adjust in the rush to sell the thing..

[prm]

One point with OE exhaust from new.
Usually the material gauge and build quality is of a higher standard than motor factor assemblies. The life span being engineered to extend past any warrantee period, under normal driving conditions.

Several manufactures adopt this planed wear principle with all consumables, exhausts, belts, starters, alternators etc. Cooling systems, brake and pump hydraulics, seem to be reasonably consistent with quality. No doubt the brand safety factor comes into play.

If you can locate a joint OE and after market manufacturer/supplier, the build standard is usually the same, but material quality can vary.

Regards

[mat_fenwick]

If you can locate a joint OE and after market manufacturer/supplier, the build standard is usually the same, but material quality can vary.

Agreed. I used to work for an OE and aftermarket supplier, and although the aftermarket parts were built on the same line, waterpumps for example would use different (cheaper) bearings and seals for non OE jobs. They would all be capable of meeting the OE spec in terms of life (but not all aftermarket suppliers would meet or even know the OE specs). The difference is that components could be changed to cut costs without having to get OE customer approval first (usually a BIG task!) Inspection sampling frequency was usually less, so you stand more of a chance of getting out of spec parts with non OE products.
Interestingly, there was an unofficial difference between parts built for OE customers to build into new engines, and those destined for OE spares (usually but not always cosmetic...)

[MULLEY]

Cheers for the offer malcolm, however i may need the other 2 parts of the exhaust as well depending upon condition etc....so i'll hold fire until i know a bit more.

What do you think about this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CITROEN-BX-82-94- ... 2eac0247f6

[Tim Leech]

Looks good value at that money Mulley, depends if its any good, if it is I wouldnt fit the lot in one go.

[MULLEY]

Thats the only problem, no idea if the quality is any good until it arrives, & then it'll be too late, oh what to do

[Defender110]

Malcolm PM sent

[citronut]

there fittmant list sudgest's this system fits hatch and estate's, if thats what they are saying they are wrong, as the estate rear box is a different length to the saloon/hatch

regards malcolm