2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Stainless Steel Exhaust Rusting

[Mark Craig]

Rusty Banks

Crewcabdiesel,



Banks is my competitior, suffice to say I would love to hammer on them but something is wrong here by looking at your pictures. If that is T-409, which is what Banks uses, then the corrosion you have shown me is way advanced compared to what typical T-409 will do.



T-409 is a good material for a lot of folks based on where they live and the winters they endure etc. T-409 is a better material as compared to the factory system materials that are stainless but nobody can tell me what "part number" stainless the factory system really is.



Unless you are in a corrosive chemical area or something odd like that etc. I can't imagine why T-409 would corrode that fast.



T-304 is the best material that can be used for mandrel bending in exhaust and has a much higher tolerance to corrosion as compared to T-409. The content of nickel and chromium in T-304 is much higher than T-409 and that is what makes T-304 so resistant to corrosion. But even so looking at the corrosion your T-409 has I wouldn't guarantee T-304 will last you very long. I wonder if you don't have some sub standard T-409 material??



Mark @ DPPI

 

[Chipstien]

Originally posted by cumminszhere



Kyle,

Take a magnet to your exhaust piping (make sure it's relatively clean). It won't stick to stainless steel. I have a hard time believing that's S. S. If Banks' insists it is, ask them for a MTR (Mill test report). They probably won't now what the hell you're talking about. If they do it will show the composition (percentages) of the various metals in your tubing. Mike

It is magnetic... . or at least the two Banks systems I had were. Obviously it is a fairly low grade stainless to be magnetic... ... too much iron maybe?

 

[y-knot]

I am really sorry to here of all the problems you are having. I to find it hard to believe that those pictures are of a SS system. I as stated earilier have a HOG PERFORMANCE SS system, I also have another truck with a GIBSON SS system. That one has been on for two winters and going thru it's third now. The system is not mirror, it never was, but it still looks very much like a stainless steel exhaust system. I do not have a very good picture, of just the exhaust system, but this one shows it a little in the back ground on top.

#ad




the clean piece top right is the tail pipe, I know it isn't a great shot, but I think you can see it also isn't rusted.

 

[JR2]

My Diesel Dynamics aluminized steel system looks better than the pics of the banks system and I live in Alaska... 7+ monts of salty roads.

 

[KL]

I had a Borla (304 Stainless Steel) Cat back system on my 96 1500. The shine had duller over time, but there was not rust after 5 years. But, I did live in North Central Idaho at the time were they used very little salt.



Looking at your pictures, the pipe used sure doesn't look like it was made from 304 Stainless Steel, but the muffler may have been. KL



P. S. Systems made from 304 Stainless Steel are usually pretty expensive ( I cant remember exactly, but I think my Borla Cat-back system was around $500-600).

 

[Extreme1]

Hmmmm... Interesting, My Banks system looks just like CCD's. I noticed it after it had been on for 6 months. My PDR HX-40 down pipe looks better but I did give it a coat of cold zinc galvanizing compound before installing it because it looked like it wasn't coated at all.



The tailpipe on mine is worse that the rest, bad pipe could be the cause. I bought mine as a "demo" unit about 16 months ago and installed it 14 months ago. It had been opened up and displayed a few times but it looked fine. The section of tailpipe inside the tip isn't corroded as badly, it must be from the salt but it shouldn't be that bad!

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

Extreme1 sorry to hear that you are having the same problems with your Banks System but at least I now know that it is not just my truck. Banks is supposed to contact me tomorrow with a solution, but I will believe it when I hear from them. I am hoping that my Banks exhaust system will hold together through the winter and not rust completely through even though we are just entering the "salty" season . I hoped to get more than a year out of a $650 exhaust system :{ .

Anyone else out there with a rusty Banks system please chime in.



Thanks

Kyle

 

[gregdoerfler]

i have a banks system and it is a little rusty but not to the extent of yours,i think i had it on for atleast one winter not counting this one.

 

[CumminsAholic]

At least now I know that there's 2 states that have roads that the deer use as salt blocks..... The roads get salted here if they think it's going to snow. Still I don't think your exhaust should look like that, I've had mine on for 2 winters now and it looks better than that and I just had a local shop do it with regular pipe, I supplied the downpipe.



Corey

 

[Chipstien]

TTT



Crew Cab Diesel, did Banks ever call you back and what did they end up doing?

 

[Lube Man]

I spoke with Jeff Morris at Banks today about this rust thing. He says that their systems are not designed to be pretty. They use 409 SS which is easier to work and stronger than 304 or 316 but will turn brown on the surface due to the higher carbon content. He says it will never rust through even in the wettest saltiest areas.



Some people have posted complaints and indicated they were waiting to hear from Banks. Well, what is the outcome. Did they get satisfaction or not? It is not fair to Banks or those interested in Banks exhausts if final reports are not made.

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

Banks took care of it after many follow up calls on my part and thats as far as I will discuss it. I still believe that Banks does make some very good products.

End of subject

 

[Chipstien]

CCD, rather blunt. Doesn't sound like your experience went all that well.

 

[EBottema]

Hmm. Banks makes some good products. . emblems. Thats about it. Why did you cut us so short on a topic that many people wrote very long informative messages to benefit you. We would like to know what happened?



Erik

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

I kept it short to avoid another ******* contest :-{} , Lube man sounds like he is happy with Banks and I did not want to burst his bubble. After all I think my photos that I posted here says it all. As for me, Banks refunded my money for the system.

I am though happy with the Banks High Rise I have on my truck now(truck is now at 421 rwhp @914 lb feet of toque) and the Banks intercooler system I had on my first gen.

Kyle

 

[BTowler]

Lube Man, sounds like Banks is lining their pockets. I believe that 409 is also cheaper than 304 or 316, and if it is easier to work, why the high price???

 

[EBottema]

Crew Cab, I understand but sometimes bubbles need to be burst



Yes, they are lining their pockets becuase they can! Rarely do you see any banks products used by people on this message board and that is becuase there is better stuff out there. Dealers push these banks products onto new truck buyers that dont know anything. On the few diesels i see in LA county, most have a banks sticker on them. Guess they are just uninformed that there are cheaper products that are better quality out there... It is all because banks is a common name now. Just like people think that Penazoil is the best oil since every quick lube stop uses the crap, when all it is is cr*p. Nobody knows what amsoil is



Erik

 

[SEmerson]

Is that the same intake that people have dynoed and lost 10 hp???

 

[EBottema]

Ya. its sure a cool looking intake though... !



Im suprised something bigger will lose that much hp... but if it does i dont want it!



erik

 

[Lube Man]

Hey Guys, I am really not committed to Banks. I'm not even committed to a bigger exhaust. I just thought the next step would be the exhaust to bring EGT's down a little and maybe pick up a little extra torque. (TDR had an editorial recently that recommended against a bigger exhaust as not cost effective. )



After reading all the TDR posts I got concerned about drone problems. Also a lot of reading about Aeroturbines. Banks being a big name and guaranteeing no drone problem I felt that was the way to go. I am open to suggestion. But is it hard to evaluate posts on the TDR unless there is a clear consensus. Once a member puts an item on their truck they tend to recommend it unless they have had a big problem. It's human nature that everyone wants other people to do what they did. It reinforces that they made the right decision themselves.



So with all of that, what should I look at in the way of a bigger exhaust system? Or should I stay with stock? Or should I just replace the stock muffler with a straight through one? (This latter course would require a new tailpipe also plus the services of a muffler shop bringing the cost up to near what I would pay for the whole system.