Benefit of removing the back box?

[Psymonkee]

So yeah my car was making a funny noise the last couple of weeks and it get considerably worse today. Somehow never noticed the exhaust wobbling around like the numpty I am.

Went to Kwik Fit (don't judge me) and they say back box and middle section need replacing and they can manage that for £248 all fitted.

Drove about 20 feet and talked to the guys at the Bosch Service Centre who put it up on their ramps, had me look at it too and it seems Kwik Fit were telling the truth!

However Bosch can manage to replace the parts at a cost of £210!

Is that a reasonable price? (2004 Mondeo 2l TDCI) If not what is?

Also the car feels as if it's running better with the back box now removed - just my imagination or would it really make a difference?

 

[LiE]

Order it from euro car parts and put it on yourself.
Part is about £50.

 

[Dogbreath]

If the original back box had corroded internally to the point that it was restricting exhaust flow then it might well give a noticeable improvement.

Be very careful if you are driving around with no back box however, the hot exhaust gasses exiting from the centre section could cause damage or even fire.

 

[jaybee]

Not to mention a more important issue I think we all know.....

 

[TaKeN]

I know for certain that on my HDi the standard backbox is rather restrictive. It felt a lot better once removed!

 

[mrk]

But will also increase noise, and not the good kind of noise!

 

[chrislusty]

My back box fell off in France web coming home. The car was felt faster, pulled better and wasn't that much louder. I had that welded back on when I got home. It lasted another 2years and 40,000 miles later when it fell off again, then I had it replaced with a new back box for £120 ish including fitting.
However people over on talkford.com have just welded a straight pipe through an have not had any problems.

 

[Jay794]

for £248 all fitted.

Also the car feels as if it's running better with the back box now removed - just my imagination or would it really make a difference?

This is why you shoul never got to Kwik Fit, I doubt you even needed a new backbox lol.

Removing the cat makes some difference to the power output, but the backbox is mainly noise reduction.

Also, isn't it illegal to run a car without a backbox?

 

[paradigm]

This is why you shoul never got to Kwik Fit, I doubt you even needed a new backbox lol.

Except it was confirmed by a second opinion elsewhere?

Perhaps you should actually read the thread before making wild assumptions.

 

[MrSix]

If the backboxes on these are anything like the ones on VAG TDI engines then removing it and replacing with a straight pipe and a tip (cheap steel tube is fine) will give you an increase in performance and a very slight increase in noise.

I performed a "mufflerectomy" on my Leon TDI and before and after dyno runs showed an increase of 8bhp, just by removing it.

 

[Psymonkee]

This is why you shoul never got to Kwik Fit, I doubt you even needed a new backbox lol.

Removing the cat makes some difference to the power output, but the backbox is mainly noise reduction.

Also, isn't it illegal to run a car without a backbox?

A brief physical inspection if the back box caused it to fall off from being rusted through!

I only went to Kwik Fit to shut my dad up tbh.

Except it was confirmed by a second opinion elsewhere?

Perhaps you should actually read the thread before making wild assumptions.

^^^ this so many times....

 

[Phil W]

I piad just shy of £80 for a new back box to be fitted on my previous Mondeo. They quoted me £140 for a full system.

Back boxes on them (TDCi's anyway) are prone to rotting at the joints and falling apart.

 

[red eye]

This is why you shoul never got to Kwik Fit, I doubt you even needed a new backbox lol.

Removing the cat makes some difference to the power output, but the backbox is mainly noise reduction.

Also, isn't it illegal to run a car without a backbox?

it illegal if, most excessive noise, it is however illegal to run with out a cat

 

[Muffin`]

I piad just shy of £80 for a new back box to be fitted on my previous Mondeo. They quoted me £140 for a full system.

Back boxes on them (TDCi's anyway) are prone to rotting at the joints and falling apart.

Aye - I had mine let go but sourcing the correct part was a nightmare, so I skimped and fitted the non-body kit 2.2 to my ST, feels so much more constrained

 

[kidloco]

The backbox fell off my 04 Mondeo tdci just 2 months ago. I didnt notice any difference in sound either. Called quick fit and like you said they wanted nearly £250. Call my local garage and they did the job including parts for under £100.

 

[red eye]

The backbox fell off my 04 Mondeo tdci just 2 months ago. I didnt notice any difference in sound either. Called quick fit and like you said they wanted nearly £250. Call my local garage and they did the job including parts for under £100.

the cats absorbed most of the noise that and exhaust timing

 

[Sin_Chase]

it illegal if, most excessive noise, it is however illegal to run with out a cat

Not illegal to not run a CAT but is if you fall over the emissions limits without one afaik?

 

[Phil W]

Not illegal to not run a CAT but is if you fall over the emissions limits without one afaik?

I thought the diesels weren't specifically tested on Emissions, but more smoke? I ran my Mondeo TDCI with a decat and it passed MOT fine.

 

[Jay794]

it illegal if, most excessive noise, it is however illegal to run with out a cat

Not on a diesel, HDi F.T.W!

 

[red eye]

Not illegal to not run a CAT but is if you fall over the emissions limits without one afaik?

Yeah if it fails emmisions then it does not get an mot cert so driving it on the road is illegal. Unless if its a pre J reg with a cat then you can remove and still pass emmisions