I purchased the round exhaust tips from Larry at Phoenix Tool Corp about a month back. They're great, good quality tips that really finish the back of the car off (good price too..). But on two occasions, one of the tips has become loose on me. The first time I caught it before it fell off and re-tightened it. The second time I wasn't so lucky...the tip fell off while I was driving. I eventually found it after about 5 minutes of retracing my steps, and it's all gouged out and scratched up. <p>I think the screw that holds it in place is made of stainless steel, while the tip itself is aluminum. Is it possible that the heat of the exhaust made the aluminum expand faster than the steel screw, hence making the screw opening wider and allowing it to loosen enough for the tip to fall off? Anyone else ever have this? Any ideas on how to prevent it? <p>The tips simply slide on and you screw them tight...<p>Thanks in advance for any help....(I already emailed Larry, thought I wold post it on the board and see if anyone had a similar problem)....<p>-Ash 98.5 1.8TQMS ("Tipless!")

I had a similar problem on past cars with similar parts in any situation where there is vibration. Most mechanics use a product called Loctite on fasteners in such conditions to prevent loosening. It is available at any auto parts outlet. Just paint it on the threads and tighten the fastener to specs. If you overighten fasteners they will break in high vibration environments.<p>Best Reguards,<p>Michael

He's never heard of any of the other guys having this problem and he generously offered to re-finish the tip at no charge if I want. I'll try the loctite, apparently they make a type where you can unscrew safely. Thanks for the quick responses guys...<p>-Ash 98.5 1.8TQMS

If there are any real race shops around you, they can do it pretty easily. It's the same treatment used on brake pieces, engine components, etc., so it won't be a foreign concept to them - just using it on exhaust "tips." This way, they CAN'T loosen without cutting the wire(s).