6.2 owners of lightning SW exhaust-Question?

[JuggNuttz]

Here is the key thing to keep in mind, those folks having issues with the welds on the hangers not holding up are for the most part, taking their trucks to extremes. We are talking about a weld point on a single hanger that is in the factory location without another factory hanger location available to work with. These folks also did not weld the system in place, they just installed with the regular band clamps supplied with the system. This would be the same with any system designed to exit in that location regardless of brand. You see, if you do not weld the connection points in the catback, it has the ability to move during heavy duty offroading, the pipes twist within each other and put even more pressure on the hanger, then they continue beating on the truck and it quite literally pulls the hanger off the pipes. I have talked with Stainless Works at length about this issue and it is only happening to those folks that are pushing their trucks to the limits and not taking the added steps during installation to ensure a secure installation. However, they are currently working on designing a secondary hanger, but this too is problematic because that hanger will most likely require it to be welded in a non stock hanger location, so welding would be required.

All of that being said, if you do not plan to push your truck to the limits, you would be just fine with the installation in your driveway if you wish, without welding. Their lightning kits hold up very well for what they are designed for, a catback upgrade on a basically stock truck that isn't being used like a full on prerunner. If you plan to push the truck to the limits, you really need to take into consideration the abuse that ANY aftermarket exhaust system is put through. SW is not the only catback systems I have seen and heard of falling off in those extreme conditions.

ok, im gonna be the ******* here. Chris, i like and respect you immenslty!! but this info is false. one of the people who lost his exhaust not only lost it earlier doing light stuff, for the Havoc run he had it FULLY welded, and the failure point was at OEM SW weld point. NOT where he welded it. also people talk about adding a hanger.... im sorry with what is being spent on a system like this, you should not have to add to it yourself....

this part here is total IMO.... take it as you will...

soundwise, i think SW is great... outside of that, i cant say im impressed at all. i dont have SW system, but i do have a Roush cat back, that alot of people said was horrible for offroad... i have a cut out many have said was horrible for offroad... well ive done SnoBall and now Havoc, and have 0 issues... i may not have drove the hardest, but i drove em hard. i will give SW huge points for seeing the flaw and working to fix it, thats awesome! but still, i myself wouldnt give them my business...

 

[mudblood]

I have had SW for many years with the vette community. I am gambling SW quality will hold up in what little off roading I do. I will certainly let everyone know what if any issues I have. That being said I am really disappointed the Stainless Works remains silent and has no comment to the customers. I would have expected more from them.
Now as for Chris and Freedom Motor Sports I can not say enough for his prices and customer service. He is a bright star in the world of vendors.

 

[Huck]

ok, im gonna be the ******* here. Chris, i like and respect you immenslty!! but this info is false. one of the people who lost his exhaust not only lost it earlier doing light stuff, for the Havoc run he had it FULLY welded, and the failure point was at OEM SW weld point. NOT where he welded it. also people talk about adding a hanger.... im sorry with what is being spent on a system like this, you should not have to add to it yourself....

this part here is total IMO.... take it as you will...

soundwise, i think SW is great... outside of that, i cant say im impressed at all. i dont have SW system, but i do have a Roush cat back, that alot of people said was horrible for offroad... i have a cut out many have said was horrible for offroad... well ive done SnoBall and now Havoc, and have 0 issues... i may not have drove the hardest, but i drove em hard. i will give SW huge points for seeing the flaw and working to fix it, thats awesome! but still, i myself wouldnt give them my business...

I tried to get to the same point but my comment was ignored.


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[Wilson]

did anyone contact SW or do we think they should just keep track of every thread? I'm talking all vendors it would be a full time job in itself. How ever if they have or any vendor been contacted asking for a response and they have not then it's time to litch!

 

[Huck]

They have been contacted and aware of the problem. What's been done on their part, I don't know


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[Wilson]

also who installed it? has anyone had SW install and they fall off? Is it full SW or a mix match? how about any other exhausts have all other stayed on with no problems at all?

---------- Post added at 12:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:27 PM ----------

They have been contacted and aware of the problem. What's been done on their part, I don't know


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contacted to respond on this thread or in general? Huck did your SW fall off?

 

[Huck]

Mine didn't, I witnessed Jordan's come off twice and biggests come off.

The issue is with the lightening style. It is only supported on hangers on one side. So they twist and fall off. When thy are welded on the next weakest point is their factory 1-2 weld. Which has failed twice.

Mine is fully welded with extra hangers. Something that should not have to be done


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[Wilson]

I agree it's fixable. There were failures before havoc. Had one on sdbr and for the most part that was just overland exploring, if I recall the failure happened doing donuts in a gravel parking lot.

Knowing the use of the vehicle when you spend that type of money on a system you hope they take that into consideration. Granted some are street queens but not all.

Other systems have held up the same abuse for less cash.

I know a member with a magnflow catback that has done every event east of the Rockies this year and it's just clamped and has held up well.


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I agree the lightning style is a selling point for off roading...

 

[Scott13]

I have it on mine with the factory connect. Love the sound and looks.. I installed it myself but ended up taking it to a welder and had him re-I force the hangars a bit and add a second hangar. No issues since that and it's solid as a rock


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[pwjstruebig]

Here is my 2 cents....

I mangled my SW Lightning exit, I had it welded on and it broke at the Y-pipe... Their design has two points for pressure the one hangar and the y-pipe. For me weakest point was the Y-pipe. According to SW their new hanger and updated Y-pipe should eliminate that from happening again... Personally I offroad too much and love to go hard and don't want to have to worry about that happening again Ive been working with paul at SW and I went with their headers, high flow cats, and X-pipe and am just gonna dump it after the muffler.... now muffler selection? may stick with SW

PS... I did have droop and had it fly off a few times... after welding it no longer drooped

PPS... Clamps can only be tightened once if you loosen them and try to re-tighten they won't fully tighten again (learned that the hard way)