Needed a flex section for the exhaust for my K24 project. Bought a Vibrant 6" that was listed as "Material: T304 Stainless Steel". As you can see below, I think that is a bit of a lie. The actual woven flex part seems fine, it's just the end caps that are the problem. Anyone else had issues like this with Vibrant? Went ahead and got a Stainless Works flex on order which actually gives the option of aluminized or stainless ends.

 

A few grades of stainless are magnetic. 316 as well as 408 I believe (my numbering may be screwy). What you will find, is that the swagged end welds like ****. I think maybe they use oil in the process and it gets embedded? ?

 

Based on research, it looks like 300 series stainless should at best become partially magnetic after being cold worked. This is definitely full magnetic. Good to know about the ends. The Stainless Works flex looks like it has better ends on it at least from the pictures.

 

Last time I welded mine, I swore I was going g to use silicon-bronze the next time. The JB weld of actual welding.
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I work with strong magnets every day at work, and yes some stainless steel are magnetic


Some magnets are strong enough you can feel the magnetic field with some thick sheet of aluminium

 

the only stainless is in the mesh. the rings are mild as far as I remember.

order vibrant PN68834. Much nicer, flow better and are turbo rated.

 

Received the Stainless Works flex in and had the same issue. This one looked like it was possibly 409 stainless though and not mild like the Vibrant. Gave them a call and they checked their stock and it was all the same way. Going to go with the Vibrant bellows shlammed suggested instead.

 

they do cost a bit more but are much nicer.

 

I have become less and less impressed with Vibrant the more I interact with their products. Check out Treadstone's flex sections.

 

They still haven't replied back to my email on Monday. I went with them first because they seem to be talked about quite a bit. Thanks for the heads up on Treadstone, they hadn't came up in my searching. Hopefully this new bellows will work. I'm not quite sure if a bellows accomplishes the same thing as a normal flex though.

 

Called Treadstone and asked them to verify their stock before ordering. Confirmed that they had the same issue and likely the same supplier. Received the Vibrant 68834 and it is definitely stainless and looks like a nice piece so I'll be going with that.