Custom Exhaust Clearance Question...Long One

[addkev]

I had my Cat Back Exhaust installed today. I elected to go with a Flowmaster 50 Series SUV muffler and have a local guy install. For $170 including the muffler and the tip, I jumped on it. It sounds awesome! I think I wasted 1/4 tank driving home just so I could listen to it.
My question is where the tubing goes up and over the axle how far is the stock tubing from the body of the vehicle and how far is it from the axle. I know there is a bump stop to keep the axle from going up any further, but... the new tubing is routed directly over the rear sway bar mount, which is 1-1/2" to 2" taller than the axle. So, the sway bar mount would hit the tubing before the axle would hit the stop. Does that make sense? There is 3" clearance from the tubing to the sway bar mount. There is 5" of clearance from the axle to the bump. Logic tells me that I am going to hit the tubing and mess up my exhaust. My muffler guy, who is very thorough and intelligent say he doesn't think it will hit. So, basically can I articulate 3" with Warriors, stock springs and a sway bar? Common sense says yes, what do you think?

 

[explorersvt]

Hell Yes!! I put duals on my 97' last year and ran into the same problem. The lazy ass at the muffler shop said " don't worry you won't get that much axle travel". Bullshit! I pulled out of his driveway and the axle hit the pipes and smashed my tips into my bumper. I turned abound and told him he would be fixing them at his expense. He whined a little but finally gave in. It took him two more trise to get them right with no clearence problems. Last month i took them off and had Meinakee install a full three inch system with a Morgan Tech muffler ( i can never leave anything alone). I am happier with with the new system and have no clearence problems. Here are some pics.:fire: http://www.sounddomain.com/member_p...brand_query=model=Explorer&tree=Ford Explorer

 

[addkev]

Thanks for the reply.
After dinner, I took the X out and climbed some hills. I went up diagonally with the front left tire and completely lifted the left rear tire up off the ground and I still have 1/2" before it would hit. Then I backed up the same hill with the rear right tire and again about 1/2" of clearance. It seems starange that I only have 2-1/2" of travel. But obviously that's all I have because I tried everything I could to get it to hit with no luck. So, I will stop worrying and just fun listening to it roar.

KKM plus the cat back, awesome performance upgrade.
I am thinking about a chip, but I don't want to pay for High Octane gas, so this will work for now.

 

[explorersvt]

Good to hear, but remember that flex clearence mey not be the same as impact clearence. Say you hit a dip at forty or fifty you will compress your bumpstops and possibly hit your pipes. Just a friendly reminder. Talk to you later.:fire: