The most common questions.

#1 Question: What is Mandrel Bending?

This is the type of bends we use in our mandrel bent exhaust systems. Mandrel bent pipes are the same diameter throughout. Mandrel bent tubing reduces restrictions by up to 25% compared to the factory or pressure shoe bends.

Mandrel bending is a widely misunderstood bending term. Mandrel bending can create a bend much tighter than non mandrel pressure bending as well as retain the full diameter of the tubing throughout the length of the tubing even through the bend radius. Bending companies refer to the bending dies as mandrels or shoes. Technically the mandrel is a part of the tooling set but does not exist in most bending applications.

"Click on photo's for larger view"

The mandrel actually goes inside the tubing and is held by a mandrel rod to support the tubing at the tangent point of the bend. The mandrel is then extracted after the bend is complete or within the last few degrees of bending. This results in the tubing being the same diameter through the straight tubing as in the bend radius. So if you started with 2" pipe and bent it into a 90 degree bend it is still 2" through the entire bend radius.

"What is the difference between a 2" diameter mandrel bent pipe and a non mandrel bent pipe?" Mandrel bent pipes are the same diameter throughout to give you up to 25% more flow than compression bent pipes.

The non mandrel bend is on the left, the mandrel bent pipe is on the right, the pipes were each cut in the middle of the bend.

In Canada the pipe on the above left is referred to as a "gradual bend".

In this photo the non mandrel bend is on top, the mandrel bent pipe is on the bottom.

At WarpSpeed Performance we design and purchase all of our custom mandrel bent tubing, because we design it ourselves we are able to eliminate the restrictive butt welds which some of our competitors still use because they use the off the shelf variety of bends.

We also offer affordable non mandrel bending with a Huth pressure bender. We use one of these in our shop to create our line of super affordable non mandrel bent Y pipes. Relying on 25 years of expertise bending and designing exhaust pipe has helped us reduce the restricted areas and achieve almost the same flow as our mandrel bent tubing for less cost.

#2 Question: What type of pipe do I need?

All of our mandrel bent pipes perform the same, you can expect maximum flow, a minimal or no increase in exhaust sound level over stock. No bees in a can or hissing sounds. Because we only use tubing which is made in the USA we even provide a 4 year no rust through warranty on our aluminized steel Y pipes. So even if you are on a budget you don't have to worry about the pipe not outlasting your car and you can buy American.

Mandrel Bent Y pipes:

T304 stainless steel in both TIG welded and MIG welded versions. (TIG welding is the most expensive).

Aluminized cold rolled mild steel in either MIG welded or TIG welded versions (TIG welding is the most expensive).

Non Mandrel bent Y pipes:

Aluminized cold rolled mild steel MIG welded only.