Different brands of V-Bands?

[Jand3rson]

I'm going to be using two 2.5" V-Band clamps in my exhaust system, and I'm trying to figure out which ones to order. There's 3 available.

The first is Burns, their stainless clamp/flange assembly set is $84.20
Second is Vibrant, their stainless clamp/flange assembly set is $75.00
And third is Godspeed, their stainless clamp/flange assembly set is $25.00

Burns is obviously the best, but that price point is a little out of my range.

Vibrant isn't much cheaper at $75 per assembly, but the Godspeed ones look EXACTLY the same, even the pics on their website look the exact same as Vibrant's kit.

So, I'm not usually one to cheap out and get the least expensive part, but I don't want to spend $170.00 for a pair of these things, or even really $150, especially if the cheaper ones are the same kit as the Vibrant. Anyone have any experience with any of them?

[acolella76]

I have a couple of eBay v-bands. They are v-bands. Not really much more to it than that, they are holding up fine. I think you would be perfectly happy with them, and I can tell how much of a perfectionist you are!

[Cinnabar325is]

I bought two of the vibrant v-bands for my exhaust and I'm very happy with them.

[Jand3rson]

Summit Racing also has one for $44.99, just ordered 2 of them. I talked to their customer support, and they said they're all pretty much made by the same manufacturer.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DTC-794-91225/

[ForcedFirebird]

I also buy them on evilbay. Paid $56 shipped for 3 full sets of 3" mild steel flanges (stainless clamps) and have had zero issues with them.

[Jand3rson]

I got the Dynatech one today from Summit Racing, and it looks like a very nice piece! Can't wait to get it welded up.

[Teaguer]

Terry Fair of Vorschlag has said that they ran into issues with supplied v-bands when using them for their V8 swap headers.
Issues being that some suppliers had clamps that were not all stainless construction or something like that.
So they moved up to a better quality and more expensive supplier but I believe the end result was pretty much the same. Meaning even the better v-bands had the same type of materials in them.

[ForcedFirebird]

Terry Fair of Vorschlag has said that they ran into issues with supplied v-bands when using them for their V8 swap headers.
Issues being that some suppliers had clamps that were not all stainless construction or something like that.
So they moved up to a better quality and more expensive supplier but I believe the end result was pretty much the same. Meaning even the better v-bands had the same type of materials in them.

The tough parts is not warping them while welding. Machined steel is machined steel, and I haven't been able to discern between the cheap and expensive band-clamps themselves.

[Jand3rson]

So in my endless researching online for reviews and what not on the different brands, it sounds like it's pretty much split between people that love them and have no issues, and people that can't get them to work right, and this is regardless of the brand.

One definitely interesting thing that I found though is this:

These clamps are used on pneumatic systems on aircraft engines. The trick we have learned from experience is to tap hard on the clamp with a mallet as you are tightening, you will vibrate the two ends flush together and when you go back to tighten the nut again, you will feel it has gotten loose.

This technique has worked flawlessly for decades in the aviation industry, give it a try.

I will definitely do this on mine, and as far as them warping while welding, isn't that in-part a result of the temperature you're welding them at?

[Cinnabar325is]

The Vibrant clamps have a ridge machined into the mating surface of one ring and a matching valley in the other so that they can only mate one way - nice, straight, and aligned. And it helps seal them better. This is something I haven't seen in other brands and I think it helps a lot.

Of course, you can still warp them welding but...

[Jand3rson]

I think one thing people might be doing wrong is that they're welding the flange flush to the end of the pipes. What you're supposed to do is leave about 1/2" or so protruding past the flange on one pipe, and weld the other flange past the end of the other pipe the same amount, so it creates a male/female connection, and the flanges seal that joint.

[ForcedFirebird]

I think one thing people might be doing wrong is that they're welding the flange flush to the end of the pipes. What you're supposed to do is leave about 1/2" or so protruding past the flange on one pipe, and weld the other flange past the end of the other pipe the same amount, so it creates a male/female connection, and the flanges seal that joint.

I have heard of people doing this, but never have myself as the only time I ever had a leak was when welding one of my first v-bands. Used a MIG and it warped, but since we had a mill at the time, just squared it up. With the TIG machine I can weld them easily without warping.

[SkiFree]

I can confirm that the Vibrant and the Godspeed v-bans are the same, at least they come from the same asian supply network (same network that supplies the adjustable cam gears (whatever the color), B&M style shifters, knockoff Treehouse CAB, the fancy toe hooks, etc.) We just got some to play around with here.

[bmwstudent]

its crazy how much these things cost in the automotive world. I work on tractor trailers and we use these clamps for the turbos and the egr systems. They are much larger 4"-5" and are stainless steel also. I know the performance product vendors are gonna mark stuff up more but these things really aren't that much from the oe supplier.

[Jand3rson]

We got the flange welded on last week before I took them in for ceramic, and it didn't warp at all, Andrew was just very careful with the heat and speed.