Help Please..........mystery Objects On My Exhaust !

[Glitterati]

My LS400 exhaust flanges, like many, are rusted away behind the cats and will probably need a new centre section. But looked at the offending area under the car yesterday and saw that bolted on sturdy brackets on the exhaust just past each cat are two large, protruding, circular steel discs about 3 inches across..............................does anyone have any idea what these are or what they might do please ?

As always, very grateful for any helpful replies please.

Thanks

[alanr]

Hi,

They are tuned mass dampers - one to each downpipe, and are there to prevent any unwanted resonance and vibration/noise in the front part of the exhaust.

Regards,

Alan

[Glitterati]

Hi,

They are tuned mass dampers - one to each downpipe, and are there to prevent any unwanted resonance and vibration/noise in the front part of the exhaust.

Regards,

Alan

Well that's clear. Many thanks indeed.

[benvallack]

Exhaust problems are a bit of a concern - I've read that it's cheaper to get a new one built with stainless steel - would these tuned mass dampers be applicable to a stainless steel replacement or would they only work with the original parts? i.e would a stainless replacement be noisier as a result?

[LowriderUK]

Exhaust problems are a bit of a concern - I've read that it's cheaper to get a new one built with stainless steel - would these tuned mass dampers be applicable to a stainless steel replacement or would they only work with the original parts? i.e would a stainless replacement be noisier as a result?

The Lexus LS is still on record as being one of the most over-engineered car in history. The tuned-mass dampers do not effect noise, they were designed to reduce vibration caused through the exhaust from a running engine from transmitted back to the vehicle body, but in reality you'd be hard pressed to notice the different whether they were there or not.