Ferrari F430 Exhaust Brackets Manual

Ferrari F430 Exhaust Brackets Manual
One of the most important upgrades to consider on the F430 is the
exhaust brackets. The way the exhaust line is fixed on the gearbox is
the main source of the well-known exhaust headers issues. The
exhaust is fixed so solidly that it can expand freely when hot. Also,
strongly attached to the gearbox, the exhaust line will have to support
the vibrations on the engine side while the gearbox has different
vibrations.
The first produced OEM exhaust brackets were cracking easily
because of these 2 problems. But then, they have been changed by
stronger brackets. They may still crack but the risk now is higher that
the stress will go all the way up to the exhaust headers and
eventually the headers will crack.
The MK1 exhaust headers will all eventually have crack or leak and in
some extreme cases, can create serious engine damage. They have
been replaced by MK2 headers and have re-enforced welds to
support the stress. But even the MK2 headers may also fail
eventually (there are already several cases) because the root cause
hasn’t been resolved.
Fortunately, Antonio Capristo has been working and researching
intensively on this problem and created a new exhaust bracket, which
is radically different than the OEM brackets. It replaces all the
exhaust mount parts as shown in red on the pictures:
The Capristo exhaust brackets or rather their new exhaust
suspension system have a double spring system so that the exhaust
can now move and expand freely. Instead of being mounted on the
gearbox of the F430, the two bracket 90° angled lips are mounted on
the rear cross member on each side. They are fixed with the existing
bolds so no drilling needed. These exhaust brackets will support
easily the entire exhaust system including the cats, muffler and
exhaust tips.
For the Scud/16M, there is only one central spring suspended
bracket, which is mounted on the gearbox. The Capristo exhaust
bracket for these cars is entirely different.
Double spring system integrated in the exhaust suspension system
The 90° lip is mounted on the rear cross member using the existing
bolts
The flat part of the bracket (suspended arm) is fixed on the exhaust
using 2 of the 4 holes, which fixes the muffler on the exhaust pipes
The above pictures were made of the first version of the Capristo
exhaust brackets. I realized that the arm wasn’t adjusting as it should
because of a small steel tip which was touching the suspended arm
(LHS of the muffler only, on the RHS of the muffler, this steel tip is
facing upwards)
Antonio Capristo took this issue immediately in consideration and
reshaped the arm in such way that it would not touch this metallic tip
anymore. If you buy these exhaust brackets, make sure that you have
this latest version.
On these pictures, the left arm is the old version while the right one is
the new version
The installation is very straightforward. All red marked OEM parts
must be removed. The first step is to remove the read diffuser and
the muffler, which is very easy (4 bolts).
Make sure to support the cats as shown in this picture. As you can
see, the gearbox is now cleared of all parts and OEM brackets.
I used a high temperature anti-seize lubricant, which I applied on the
exhaust bolts and springs.
As shown in the previous pictures, the “leg” of the new exhaust
bracket is fixed directly on the rear cross member using the existing
bolts.
The brackets (springs) must be adjusted at the right height
before screwing the "legs" on the exhaust side in such way
that their is no force between the exhaust and the legs but
simply sit on them.
The suspension arm holes should align perfectly well with those in
the exhaust
Fix the suspension arm using the 2 provided bolts. The bolts are
copper plated (heat resistant) and the M8 copper plated nuts are selflocking.
Now you can adjust the level of the exhaust brackets by acting on the
bolts going through the springs. I just had to slightly adjust the
LHS to obtain exactly and identical alignment between the
LHS and RHS exhaust tips (2 cm gap between the inner pipe
and the upper edge).
Here is the result of the installed new exhaust brackets
(No more issues with this embarrassing tip)
View from above once the muffler reinstalled