[StefVan]

One of the most important upgrades to consider on the F430/Scud/16M are 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 They have been replaced by MK2 headers and have re-enforced welds to support the stress.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 realised 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 straight forward. 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 self-locking.







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

[StefVan]

I took also a couple of picture where the efficiency of the Capristo exhaust brackets can be clearly seen. Grace to these brackets, the entire exhaust line can now expand as much as needed. It shows evidence that the exhaust really need to expand, something it cannot do with the stock brackets. The grease marks left on the bracket leg show the difference between the maximum and minimum expansion of the exhaust. I made this test after a normal drive, so the engine wasn’t too hot. Although, there is enough margin left for the exhaust to expand when the car is really driven hard and consequently will have a hotter exhaust which consequently will expand more.

For those who install these Capristo exhaust brackets, you should see identical marks. If you don’t, it means that the bolds have been tighten too much and the exhaust won’t be able to expand neither the suspension springs won’t be able to do their job. Make sure that with a cold engine, the bolds are positioned at one extreme side (towards the cross member) and that a maximum hole space is left for the brackets to move in the opposite direction.

[Killer58]

Very interesting Stef. Thanks for the info. Would this same setup apply to the 360 as well?

[Badbob1]

Great write up, I installed these brackets a few weeks ago, easy as pie! Best part about these brackets is the terrible resonating sound the car always made around 3000 RPM is now gone! What a great improvement that only took a couple of hours to complete. My original exhaust brackets have already broken and been replace free of charge by the dealer. I spoke to the mechanic and he recommended I get these as the factory brackets would break again.

[StefVan]

Originally Posted by Killer58

Very interesting Stef. Thanks for the info. Would this same setup apply to the 360 as well?

Thanks David . I'm afraid that this doesn't apply to the F360 or maybe only on the CS which has an almost identical F430 Race exhaust system. But I haven't checked this in details.

[StefVan]

Originally Posted by Badbob1

Great write up, I installed these brackets a few weeks ago, easy as pie! Best part about these brackets is the terrible resonating sound the car always made around 3000 RPM is now gone! What a great improvement that only took a couple of hours to complete. My original exhaust brackets have already broken and been replace free of charge by the dealer. I spoke to the mechanic and he recommended I get these as the factory brackets would break again.

Thanks Bob It's great you made this upgrade. It does make a real difference and it is a win win in terms of weight reduction

[AWay]

What do these brackets cost and where is the best place to purchase them in the US?

They look like a great solution.

[StefVan]

Andrew, in the US, they cost 550$. Here is the link for the US : http://capristoexhaust.com/index.php...mart&Itemid=89

[Killer58]

Originally Posted by StefVan

Thanks David . I'm afraid that this doesn't apply to the F360 or maybe only on the CS which has an almost identical F430 Race exhaust system. But I haven't checked this in details.

Good catch, I should have mentioned that my Spider has the optional factory race exhaust. It looks identical to your photos, but I'm not sure about all the brackets and other bits.

[johan6504]

Originally Posted by StefVan

Andrew, in the US, they cost 550$. Here is the link for the US : http://capristoexhaust.com/index.php...mart&Itemid=89

Where and how much in Europe?

[StefVan]

Johan, the brackets for the F430 are here on the Capristo's website :
ExhaustSystems » Ferrari 430 » Ferrari » Car Models » Capristo ExhaustSystems

You can contact them to get the details of the local Danish distributor for Scandinavian countries : Martin Schenkel - order@capristo.de

[StefVan]

Originally Posted by Killer58

Good catch, I should have mentioned that my Spider has the optional factory race exhaust. It looks identical to your photos, but I'm not sure about all the brackets and other bits.

David, you can maybe drop an email at Capristo and ask them if these brackets would work on the F360. I don't know if the bolts on the rear cross member are located exactly at the same place as the F430.

[Nashtyboy]

Interesting, maybe this is the sound that's been worrying me since I got my new 430. Kind of like a fast rattlesnake sound? Turbo maracas?

[Barry]

Originally Posted by Nashtyboy

Interesting, maybe this is the sound that's been worrying me since I got my new 430. Kind of like a fast rattlesnake sound? Turbo maracas?

Welcome to FL Nashtyboy. Tell us a bit about yourself and your new 430
Member Introductions - Ferrari Life

[StefVan]

Originally Posted by Nashtyboy

Interesting, maybe this is the sound that's been worrying me since I got my new 430. Kind of like a fast rattlesnake sound? Turbo maracas?

Welcome to FerrariLife Let us see your beauty! Yes, this would be the very caracteristical noise of broken exhaust brackets. Sometimes it's difficult to see the crack as often it can be just a hairline crack.

[Killer58]

Stef, et.al.,

Johan Bruwer, one of the engineers at Capristo, answered the 360 question: While the 360 has a similar cross-member to the 430, the mounting holes are not in the same place. Therefore, this bracket set-up will NOT fit the racing exhaust on a 360.

[StefVan]

Originally Posted by Killer58

Stef, et.al.,

Johan Bruwer, one of the engineers at Capristo, answered the 360 question: While the 360 has a similar cross-member to the 430, the mounting holes are not in the same place. Therefore, this bracket set-up will NOT fit the racing exhaust on a 360.

Thanks very much David, that's what I feared.

[johan6504]

Checked the brackets on my 430 Scuderia yesterday, looks like new so no need to change for that reason. Is it worth changing for preventive reasons on a Scuderia?

[Nashtyboy]

This is why I'm doing it... heading off any potential problems at the pass. Peace of mind seems worth it @$550.

[AWay]

Originally Posted by Nashtyboy

Peace of mind seems worth it @$550.

Jeez, I was looking at the brackets and thinking what part of them cost even $100 to produce? A neat idea for sure, but $550 seems quite steep to my brain.