Well, I figured stainless was stainless so I bought the cheaper of the two mbrp exhaust systems available. I thought all that was different was the finish. I noticed the down pipe was much better polished (almost looked chromed). Well, maybe the expensive one would have rusted too but the cheaper one is rusting pretty bad where it gets water splashed on it behind the rear wheels. Any thought on how to keep the rust down? I figure to try polishing it off then try wax or something. Can't think of anything to cover it with but a better piece of stainless. I just haven't seen a clamp on exhaust tip that I really like.. Arlon

 

409 stainless does not hold its finish like 304 stainless. it will last just fine the finish just get kind of crappy. I had some slp 409 stainless headers on my old IROC. I ended up getting them coated.

If you really **** I would clean it up and sell it and put on a 304 exhaust.

the exhuast on my mustang is all 304 stainless (borla) and it is 5 years old an looks brand new pretty much.

 

Call it **** if you want but it does look like *&^% after a month.

 

Put a big 304ss tip.

 

I did find a tip I liked on ebay that will cover the rust and it's better steel. After a total of about $550 I will have a shiny cobbled togather bunch of junk that did nothing for my truck. Live and learn. Anyone else interested in an exhaust system, don't try saving $150 bucks. It isn't worth it because you will be dissatisfied and probably end up having to get the expensive one to cover up the trash anyway. Every time I try to save a dollar it costs me two.

 

Do you take it to the beach or something? I live in the same area and mine still looks good. Course I have the tip to protect it.

 

Nothing on my system is rusted.

 

Less nickle, so it rusts, Try Flitz, I use it on just about everything, works real good in polishing and protecting my guns(SS Nickle, Blued, Blackpowder). I would say it would polish that right out and protect it in the future from the rust reforming. Just a cheap and easy thought.

floridagc

 

Good thing I read this, I was going to try to save money too, but my truck will be seeing beach duty... I live on the beach.

 

well if all you care about is the tip then just weld on a 304 tip. I agee though at $550 I would not be happy with that but I have already learned my 409 lesson in the past and just went with the 304.

if it were me I would live and learn. clean that exhaust up as I bet you can make it look like new with a bit of elbow grease. sell it and get a 304 system.

it does look like something corrosive got on it though. my alumized stock pipe does not look that bad. If it is just the looks of the tip that bothers you though that can be remedied.

 

I wish you guys would have done a search. I have been posting about my rusting 409 pipe for about two years. It probably won't rust through but who knows what the inside looks like? When I complained the dealer told me to go under and polish it. Yeah, like I'm gonna do that.

Wetspirit

 

I polished it off with some scotch brite and then waxed it. Most came off but not all. I did launch my boat once since adding the exhaust and I'm sure there was some water on the ramp that could have been slung off the tires. I'll still trim it back and add a new tip. I really don't want to have to carry a jug of water to rinse my tire and exhaust pipe every time I launch my boat. I'm toying with the idea of selling the truck and getting a later model so for now it will get a new tip and I'll just chalk it up to training expenses.

Factory exhaust was in the same location and saw a number of launchings and did not have a spot of rust. I guess even the factory system is better than than the cheaper after market stuff..

Anybody else fixing to get an exhaust system, DON'T TRY SAVING A FEW BUCKS...

 

400-series stainless steel is magnetic and of course will oxidize much easier than the 300-series with higher alloy content; also - like any other metal, the 409 stainless will oxidize faster with higher temperatures.

There is a stainless steel spray paint we use that forms a very durable, sacrificial coating on any solid material. It's essentially stainless steel powder suspended in a binder/carrier.

 

The reason it rusts is because it has a higher iron content. Try sticking a magnet to 409 and then to 304. The magnet will stick to 409 and will not stick to 304. That's the easy way to tell the difference between high quality stainless and lower quality stainless if you don't know the grade of it.