I just bought and installed a WS y-pipe for my 97 max. It took me all day to get my stock y-pipe off. But I finally got it off and put the new one on in no time at all. I was worried that it would be a lot louder but with my stock exhaust and cat, it is hardly any louder than it was before.

However, I have a question for those with WS y-pipes. When I punch the gas from a stand still, for the first one or two seconds, I hear and even feel a rattling noise coming from my auto shifter or at least underneath it. But it goes away pretty quickly, even way before it has time to shift to second. When I accelerate conservatively, there is no rattling at all. Even when i punch it in idle, it sounds perfect.... no rattling. I thought that I had to tighten the bolts, which I did, but the sound is still there. I made sure to put on the new gaskets and also made sure that the piping was not touching the frame of the car. Could it be that something in my transmission is rattling due to the slightly raise vibrations from the new y-pipe?

Anyone else had this problem?

I just read that this guy fixed his rattling problem (it said that it was grainy under the gas pedal, so i'm not sure if it is the same problem) by wrapping a 4" hose clamp to the y-pipe and hanging it from the transmission fixture (whatever that is). Is this a viable solution? Are there any other methods? Please help!

(I wrote this in an reply to a different thread elsewhere, but i decided to make a separate thread to get more replies)

 

I think EVERYONE else has had this problem.

The sound you are hearing is the WSP pipe rattling off the cross-member. It will get better with time (one or the other gives a little and bends... makes a place for itself) - but after about 2 months I still get the marbles pouring into a tin can sound if I launch hard.

It looks like there is plenty of clearance down there, but between the motor, exhaust, body - flexing and rocking under hard acceleration - it'll hit.

 

oh here is a short vid i made with my digital camera back when i asked the same question

http://www.v6atlanta.com/vids/ypipe.avi

lturn up your headphones and listen for the noise from 3K all the way to 2nd gear shift

most ppl say they can't hear it but give it a shot

 

hmmmmm.... well thanks for the help... it makes me feel a little better.

Scarface, I viewed/heard your vid and I think that my noise is different than yours. My noise sounds almost like my gears are grinding and is pretty loud... i have an automatic btw. I can actually feel the rattling/grinding in my shifter when I place my hand on it while i punch it in 1st. I am however familiar with YOUR rattling noise. I had that noise even way before I installed my y-pipe. It usually comes when I pass 3000 rpms. I think that it is pretty normal on most cars, no? My bro's mustang also does that at higher rpms. Does anyone know what that noise is coming from and how to fix it?

 

i had it i think my flex section broke in after a while or something, i had it for like a month and a half then it went away one day, go figure

 

solution:

there is a bracket around the stock cat convertor. take that off and the rattling is gone !

 

anyone REALLY know how to fix this, sounds like the flex section

 

I dont have a cat or bracket, so that cant be it.

 

mine rattles when i floor it, but if i drive grandma style, i dont notice it. i just dont like it. someone on the forum suggested to use extra washers on the cross member 4 to be exact. to lower the bracket and stop the rattleing

 

Mine is very occasional, sometimes yes sometimes no. But when it does occur, it's only between 70-100% throttle.

 

I want to make sure that my rattling is the same as everyone elses. I have two types of rattling. The first is a quieter one when I hit higher rpms and it sounds like a light metal plate vibrating against something....I have always had that even before I installed the y-pipe. I'm thinking that it is cause by wear-and-tear, b/c my bro's mustang GT and my friend's mustang GT make the exact same sound. Its not too loud.

The second noise is definitely due to the y-pipe install and is very loud and noticeable because I actually feel the vibrations coming from underneath my auto shifter. It literally sounds as if my gears are grinding and not just rattling. Is everyone else's rattling like that?

 

Oh and btw, the second noise only comes when i first punch it and quickly goes away before I hit second gear. It doesn't do it when I'm at higher rpms... only at the very start of my acceleration does it come.

 

Is this only for the Fed Spec Y pipes or does it also include Cali spec? I'm thinking about buying one for my Cali spec, and I haven't read too many reviews on them...

 

My wsp ypipe used to rattle like crazy for like two weeks after I put it on. IT happened for a second or two when I started in first gear, then when I shifted to second gear it happened again.

Now, it happens less often though starting in first still makes that really annoying rattle. I don't think my pipe hits the cross member because there is about an inch of clearance and there are no signs of damage to the pipe.

I tried to use the factory bracket and a hose clamp as per Dave B's instructions but it didn't change the rattle at all.

I plan to get under the car soon and try to figure this thing out cause it is getting very frustrating.

 

[QUOTE=bearded]My wsp ypipe used to rattle like crazy for like two weeks after I put it on. IT happened for a second or two when I started in first gear, then when I shifted to second gear it happened again.
QUOTE]


That is exactly what happens to me when i start in first.... but I don't get that for second gear. Do you feel the rattle through your shift stick too? I do. ( i have an auto though)

Bearded... let me know if you find anything under there.

 

Werd... I feel you guys it sounds as if the whole exhaust system is loose (its a nasty rattling sound, like a shaky pipe and its right under the shifter and your seat, it makes the car sound ghetto and cheap), I get it when I'm in first, I first I thought it was my exhaust, but they welded that biatch on good, and my cat heat shield looking thing came off, along time ago, but I doubt its that,

 

Nah I dont feel the rattle in my stick shift. I can only hear it and it sounds terrible! It sounds like it is right under me when driving. People look at me when I pull out of a parking spot cause it sounds so bad.

I think that we all have the same problem, just that we have different transmissions. It seems that the rattle is felt and heard in an auto and just heard in the manual.

In the fifth gen stickies it says that the rattle might come from the flex section of the y-pipe. The solution is to loosen all of the cat bolts and rock it back and forth. Supposedly this will release the pressure that the cat puts on the flex section, reducing the rattle.

I plan to try this first and work from there. Anyone have any other suggestions???

 

We are all having the EXACT same problem. The problem is soley due to the y-pipe hitting the crossmember when the engine is under stress and the wheels are putting hp to the ground. Yes it only happens to me at a standstill when i go WOT. IT never happens from a roll and i hear and feel the rattle/vibrations of the WS y-pipe in 1st gear WOT. I have a 98 auto max w/ a fed spec, mandrel-bent, alum. steel y-pipe that we all bought for $160.00 shipped. But moreover, I get a minimal grinding sound, different from the WOT rattling sound. This happens even at slow speeds when I'm turn the car sharply or over speed bumps. This sound began ONLY after y-pipe installation. WS is crap. Save money and buy the SS Cattman y-pipe. Beatiful quaility, excellence performance, fits PERFECTLY, and better sound(no riice).

 

for all those suggesting to remove the bracket...you're all wrong, your going to destroy the flex if you dont have that bracket supporting the way, its suppose dto move with the body forward and backwards, when you take that bracket off, itll be moving vertically, youll rip the flex in like amonth, if you want to get rid of the rattle, secure the front of the pipe to where the stock pipe was mounted not he transmisson via a large hose clamp....antoher issue might be the stock bracket for those who do have th ebracket on, you need to pry it away fromt eh body, lastly, if you just put the pipe on recently, thers a breakin period for the flex, itll rattle, but after a week it goes away


hope that helps

 

Looks like some of you have done this but here's DaveB's y-pipe rattle fix: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=310324.

 

Ok so here is an update. I got under the car just now and did some things. I loosened the cat bolts which attach to the y-pipe and rocked the cat back and forth. Then I reseated the cat hanger which was not perfectly straight. Then I tightened the bolts and put on the factory bracket with a hose clamp as in Dave B's thread. I figured one of these things would help the rattling situation.

Although, upon futher inspection, it seems that the y-pipe is VERY close to the cross member. About half an inch.

After test driving the car, the rattle seems to be gone. Woohoo...now I just hope that it is gone for good.

 

After reading these replies, I am coming to a conclusion that there are two types of noises coming from the y-pipe. There is the very common rattling due to WOT throttle and then there is the grinding noise you hear and feel through the shifter when you start from a stand still in first. Smokeymountain, you said that you had the second problem, just like i have. Did you find a fix or did you just buy the SS cattman?

Oh and btw, is there anyone who had the grinding noise and did Dave B's method or any other way to fix it?

 

i contacted dallas at warpspeed and they said they sale a cat bracket that they told me would surley fix the problem. it is $12 i think, and they said "no more noise".

i am not going to waste $12 until i hear of someone eles already using it and it works.

 

warpspeed y-pipe has fitment issue.

1. remove heatshield from flex section all the way back to b-pipe, cuz it doesn't do anything and u don't need it, also some weight reduction.
2. remove the prongs off the old y-pipe bracket. that thing is useless.
3. cut off the extra piece that's sticking out of the y-pipe flex section. u'll either have to bend it or cut if off. (i cut it off)

good luck.

 

what is the y-pipe bracket? is tha the thing taht was on the factory y-pipe?

and what do you cut off. do youhave a pic? sorry to be so questioning i just do nto know aht ya talking about man. thanks for the help.

 

Has anyone bought and intalled the WS Cat bracket (selling for $12)??? I am thinking of calling them and buying one. This grinding noise is really bothering me. The y-pipe/cat is no where near anything to cause it to rattle, I tried to push / pull it to anything I thought it can touch but it doesn't even come close. The y-pipe is attached pretty firmly. I think that the grinding noise is coming from the cat/y-pipe connection though.

 

how many times do i have to say. remove the bracket around the cat. just call wsp , they'll tell u what to do...

 

How many times do i have to say, i have no cat, hence no bracket, and i STILL have rattle

 

bump bump........ I need a how to guide.... I really hope I can fix the problem myself without spending money.

 

just wondering if anyone wrapped their ypipe in exhaust wrap and if they wrapped the whole thing ot just the flex. i dunno if i should