Stainless coolant pipes
Discussion
I would like to gauge the opinions of people who have purchased these as to their quality. I ordered a set this week and I'm somewhat disappointed in them. I have attached some photos. I would like to know whether this is how they tend to be or if I should be complaining and trying a different supplier?
The ends of the smaller tubes.
Is this filling a hole? Or just a random spot of weld?
General welding spatter.
The ends of the tubes are all hand finished with a file and not very evenly. If this is the way they are always delivered I'll be spending a few hours tidying them up before putting them anywhere near my car.
The ends of the smaller tubes.
Is this filling a hole? Or just a random spot of weld?
General welding spatter.
The ends of the tubes are all hand finished with a file and not very evenly. If this is the way they are always delivered I'll be spending a few hours tidying them up before putting them anywhere near my car.
You can't see them once in the car so wouldn't bother.
The welds on the smaller tubes are as you are probably aware to stop the hoses coming off but it's very hard to bead that size pipe. I have a beading tool for the pipes I made and works fine on the thinner walked 35mm pipe but small which is thicker walled it doesn't.
As long as it doesn't leak I wouldn't worry to much. The ones I brought the welds aren't great but passable not up to a class one welder.
The welds on the smaller tubes are as you are probably aware to stop the hoses coming off but it's very hard to bead that size pipe. I have a beading tool for the pipes I made and works fine on the thinner walked 35mm pipe but small which is thicker walled it doesn't.
As long as it doesn't leak I wouldn't worry to much. The ones I brought the welds aren't great but passable not up to a class one welder.
I also bought a set of stainless coolant pipes from ACT, when I looked after the pipes I already had my doubts about the weldings.
And indeed, after installing the pipes and filling up the system, I already noticed a leaking weld.
So I took out all the pipes and went to a guy a know, a craftsman TIG welder and asked him to renew all the welds, regardless the quality of the old weldings.
Now I have a really good coolant system.
ACT pipes are nice, welding is very poor. It is not good, because they aren't cheap.
The guys at ACT must do some quality control before sending these parts to clients, it kills your reputation.
And indeed, after installing the pipes and filling up the system, I already noticed a leaking weld.
So I took out all the pipes and went to a guy a know, a craftsman TIG welder and asked him to renew all the welds, regardless the quality of the old weldings.
Now I have a really good coolant system.
ACT pipes are nice, welding is very poor. It is not good, because they aren't cheap.
The guys at ACT must do some quality control before sending these parts to clients, it kills your reputation.
Returning should be the best way, but first I must send them over from Holland to ACT, trouble and postage costs.
When they return to me from ACT, what kind of welding may I expect? Maybe the same welder tried again...
To prevent such a case, I preferred to spend some money and brought te pipes to a guy I know and who is a respectable welder and also use backing gas inside the pipes during welding.
Result: beautiful smooth welds inside the pipes. No corrosion inside.
Dont want any trouble when driving, especially not by leaking coolant due to poor welding.
When they return to me from ACT, what kind of welding may I expect? Maybe the same welder tried again...
To prevent such a case, I preferred to spend some money and brought te pipes to a guy I know and who is a respectable welder and also use backing gas inside the pipes during welding.
Result: beautiful smooth welds inside the pipes. No corrosion inside.
Dont want any trouble when driving, especially not by leaking coolant due to poor welding.
I too noticed that they hadn't purged the pipes the difference if makes it amazing to the weld finish. The asking price for them is not worth what is costs to make. I had pipes bent to the same shape at an exhaust place and welded the other pipes in and beaded the ends. Which after two years i still haven't finished. But to the side and other projects.
if they are ACT they dont look like the images.
http://www.actproducts.co.uk/product/sc007-cerbera...
Mine are 5 years old now? and still working well, but I don't recall them looking like that. Thought the ends were flared as well.
http://www.actproducts.co.uk/product/sc007-cerbera...
Mine are 5 years old now? and still working well, but I don't recall them looking like that. Thought the ends were flared as well.
Mine are around the same age, they were not flared but had four neat spots of weld at 90' angles to secure the pipes.they certainly didn't look anything like the ones above, I'd have sent them back if they had of. As said, they are a lot of money and should be finished nicely, wether they can be seen or not...
Edited by Cerberaherts on Friday 27th March 19:20
An update for you all. I returned these to Racetech today. They were very helpful and replaced them with a better set. These do come out of the same place that the ACT ones are made. Racetech told me that they do have another supplier who makes much better quality items but they are twice the price.
Fingers crossed they don't leak!
Fingers crossed they don't leak!
Jimm218 said:
An update for you all. I returned these to Racetech today. They were very helpful and replaced them with a better set. These do come out of the same place that the ACT ones are made. Racetech told me that they do have another supplier who makes much better quality items but they are twice the price.
Fingers crossed they don't leak!
You weren't fitting these yesterday with my mate Chris were you??Fingers crossed they don't leak!
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff