Doug Gordon

I had my car in for service this week and complained that there seemed to be a noise or "resonance" in certain RPM ranges that didn't used to be there. When I got the car back, the service writeup guy said that they ordered a part and he thought it was an "exhaust damper". I guess it makes sense that such a thing might exist and that it would be to damp out vibrations in the exhaust system. OTOH, it doesn't sound like the type of thing that would be likely to fail (unless it just plain fell off!).

Has anyone heard of such a part? Can you describe what it is?

Ed at Work

He's probably talking about a braided flex connector.

karlA4

I have the same problem and have traced it to the braided wire flex connector that Ed mentioned. On the outside it looks OK but it shakes and rattles when you move it with your hand. I put on my Brullen exhaust (2.5 years ago) myself and I wasn't too careful about the flex segment. Looking for a source of the problem recently I saw a warning in the A4 service manual not to move the flex segment more than 10 degrees or you will damage it. That's what I think I did to mine, but I don't know if you have an aftermarket exhaust. I've also found that exhaust systems on lowered cars are subject to rocks and ice chunks. Hitting something could have damaged the flex segment inside even though outside it looks OK.

Karl
97 A4 1.8Tq

Andy Hedin

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/116/A_Hedin_Borla_Front_Hanger.jpg"></center><p>Borla exhaust at top in photo.
Stock exhaust at bottom.