There are many ways to bend exhaust pipes. You can use mandrel pipe bending equipment or bend the pipe without a bender. Bending the pipe is thought to be a very cost-efficient way of replacing or even adjusting it.

Further, you will get the best fit by bending the pipe yourself. This is because you are adjusting the pipe according to your needs. Moreover, improper bending might cause a crease on the pipe, which might damage the exhaust pipe.

The easiest way is to use the mandrel pipe bending equipment. However, you can use a filled pipe to bend the exhaust pipe. Let us proceed ahead with the mandrel bending technique.

 

Mandrel Bent Technique

You will use mandrel-pipe bending equipment to bend the exhaust pipe yourself without causing any crease. This will ensure better airflow. The mandrel pipe bending equipment has hard equipment. An insert is placed inside the pipe to prevent any deformed shape.

Firstly, you need to measure the pipe from its end to where the bend will occur. Then, you need to mark the position. Note that this measurement is from the pipe’s edge to where you want the far wall placed after the bend.

At this point, you need to align the mark with mandrel-pipe bending equipment. The appearance should be like a triangle or a diamond.

Finally, bend the pipe with the mandrel-pipe equipment to the desired angle. Make sure to check if the pipe is correctly bent. If it is not, you can correct the bend and place it accurately.

Note that the mandrel pipe bending technique is the most reliable and accurate way of knowing how to bend an exhaust pipe. However, the downside of this technique is that it is expensive. That being said, mandrel-pipe bending equipment will cost you around $10,000 to $50,000. Therefore, many people never use this technique and proceed with cheaper techniques like at-home techniques.

Now, we will use a cheaper at-home technique, like the filled pipe, to learn how to bend an exhaust pipe.

 

Filled Pipe Bending Way

The filled pipe bending system is the cheapest way to bend the exhaust pipe without using expensive mandrel-bent tubing. You will use sand to prevent the pipe from deforming while bending. The steps for bending the exhaust pipe with the filled pipe technique are shown below.

 

Step 1: Measure Bend

First, measure from the end of the pipe to where the far wall will be after bending it. Make sure you keep about three inches of pipe for overlapping.

This is where you will clamp the pipe inside the car. Further, do not forget to mark the pipe you will use later.

 

Step 2: Filling Pipe Using Sand

Fill the pipe with sand. As we are not using mandrel-bent tubing, sand is essential to prevent deformation. Further, ensure that the pipe is tightly filled with sand.

Finally, a cap seals the pipe inside to prevent sand from getting out. If you do not have a cap, you can also seal the pipe with a bunch of newspapers.

 

Step 3: Using Vise To Secure Pipe

Use the vice to secure the pipe firmly. Align the vice to the mark you made earlier, leaving some space so that the mark is visible. Finally, make the vice tight so that it firmly holds the exhaust pipe. However, do not over tighten, as it might dent the metal.

 

Step 4: Heat Bent Position

In this step, you need to heat the tube with a heat gun where it is bent. Continue heating the metal until it becomes soft. Further, heat the tube from the inside rather than the outside.

The outside portion of the pipe is very fragile and prone to cracking. Therefore, heating from the inside will prevent any possible tear or crack.

 

Step 5: Making The Pipe Bend

Finally, pull the pipe towards you to bend it. Make sure to wear safety gloves, as the metal tube might be seriously hot. Now, gently pull the tube without any roughness, as it might crack or cause creases.

 

Step 6: Confirm The Bending

Now, lift the pipe to fit where you desire it to be. If necessary, make adjustments according to your needs.

 

Step 7: Re-Adjusting If Necessary

You might need to adjust the bent again. Therefore, place the pipe back on the vice and heat the tube again to bend it according to the needs. Finally, fit the pipe again to check if it fits properly.

 

Step 8:  Wash Pipe Using Water

This is the last step in bending the exhaust pipe. You must wash the debris inside the exhaust pipe after perfectly shaping it. Firstly, you must remove the cap from the pipe and drown out all the sound. Further, some sand will be covered around the inner wall inside the pipe. Therefore, you must flush water inside the pipe to wash out all debris.

Finally, dry the pipe after washing it with water. Drying will ensure there is no moisture to help corrosion and rusting. Now, fit the bent exhaust pipe into your vehicle.

 

Conclusion

Now you know how to bend exhaust pipes with and without mandrel-bent tubing. Note that you can get precise bending through mandrel-bent tubing. However, it is very expensive, and people often opt for the less expensive in-house process.

The filled pipe bending method is an impeccable way to bend the exhaust pipe. The process is cheap but requires much more effort.

Further, bending the pipe yourself will ensure better precision, as you will know how much to bend. Moreover, you can adjust the bend if necessary. However, do note to wash the pipe after the filled pipe bending process, as sand might still be stuck inside.